Shloka 41

धृतराष्ट्रस्य पश्चात्तापः तथा वनप्रस्थानानुज्ञा | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Remorse and Request for Forest-Retirement

Devanagari script

गोवद्रासभवच्चैव कुर्युर्ये ब्यवहारिण: । 'पाण्डुनन्दन! तुम्हारे राज्यके अंदर रहनेवाले जो कारीगर और शिल्पी तुम्हारा काम करें, तुम्हें उनके भरण-पोषणका प्रबन्ध अवश्य करना चाहिये; जैसे गधों और बैलोंसे काम लेनेवाले लोग उन्हें खानेको देते हैं || ४० इ ।।

Transliteration

govadrāsabhavac caiva kuryur ye vyavahāriṇaḥ | pāṇḍunandana! tava rājyāntaravartino ye kārīgarāḥ śilpinaś ca tava kāryaṃ kuryuḥ, teṣāṃ bharaṇa-poṣaṇasya prabandhaṃ tvayāvaśyaṃ kartavyaḥ; yathā gardabhaiḥ balībhiś ca kāryaṃ gṛhṇantaḥ lokās tebhyo bhojanaṃ dadati ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：“噫，般度之子啊，在你的国中，为你效力的工匠与匠师，你务必为其筹措供养、使其得以生存。不可夺其劳而不给其食——正如使驴与牛负役之人，亦尚且给它们饲料。”

Word by Word

• गोवत्: like a cow/ox
• गोवत्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गो
• Form: indeclinable (vat-pratyaya: 'like/as')

• रासभवत्: like a donkey
• रासभवत्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रासभ
• Form: indeclinable (vat-pratyaya: 'like/as')

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: indeclinable

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव
• Form: indeclinable

• कुर्युः: should do / would do
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: vidhi-lin (optative), parasmaipada; 3rd person plural

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: masculine; nominative plural

• व्यवहारिणः: dealers/men engaged in transactions (practical men)
• व्यवहारिणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवहारिन्
• Form: masculine; nominative plural

• स्वरन्ध्रम्: one's own weak point/flaw
• स्वरन्ध्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-रन्ध्र
• Form: neuter; accusative singular

• पररन्ध्रम्: another's weak point/flaw
• पररन्ध्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर-रन्ध्र
• Form: neuter; accusative singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: indeclinable

• स्वेषु: in one's own (matters/people)
• स्वेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: स्व
• Form: masculine/neuter; locative plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: indeclinable

• एव: indeed/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव
• Form: indeclinable

• परेषु: in others' (matters/people)
• परेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: masculine/neuter; locative plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: indeclinable

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pāṇḍunandana (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• artisans (kārīgarāḥ)
• craftsmen (śilpinaḥ)
• donkeys (gardabhāḥ)
• oxen/bulls (balīvāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler must ensure the livelihood and maintenance of those who work for the state—especially artisans and craftsmen. Taking labor without providing sustenance is unethical; even working animals are fed, so human workers deserve organized support.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana continues instructive counsel addressed to Yudhiṣṭhira (Pāṇḍunandana), emphasizing practical royal duty: the king should arrange the upkeep of workers in his realm who perform tasks for him.