Shloka 44
Adhyāya 14: Sudēṣṇā Sends Sairandhrī to Kīcaka’s House (सुदेष्णा–सैरन्ध्री–कीचक संवादः)
सर्वकामसमृद्धेषु भोगेष्वनुपमेष्विह । भोक्तव्येषु च कल्याणि कस्माद् दास््ये रता हासि
sarvakāmasamṛddheṣu bhogeṣv anupameṣv iha | bhoktavyeṣu ca kalyāṇi kasmād dāsye ratā hāsi ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Hỡi người nữ cát tường, khi những lạc thú vô song—đủ đầy mọi ước nguyện—đang sẵn có nơi đây để nàng thụ hưởng, cớ sao nàng vẫn còn quyến luyến thân phận nô tỳ?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts material abundance with a chosen life of service, implicitly raising an ethical question: when pleasure and privilege are available, what inner commitment or principle leads someone to prefer humility, duty, or self-restraint over indulgence?
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, someone addresses an ‘auspicious lady’ and questions her preference for remaining in a servant’s role despite the availability of exceptional comforts and pleasures, highlighting a tension between external opportunity and personal resolve.