Shloka 32

Nakula’s Counsel on Yajña, Dāna, and Tyāga (नकुलोपदेशः—यज्ञदानत्यागविचारः)

Devanagari script

अदातार: शरण्याश्ष॒ राजकिल्बिषभागिन: । दोषाणामेव भोक्तारो न सुखानां कदाचन

Transliteration

adātāraḥ śaraṇyāś ca rāja-kilbiṣa-bhāginaḥ | doṣāṇām eva bhoktāro na sukhānāṃ kadācana ||

Translation

凡不肯施与、又不护佑来投奔求庇之人者，便与君王之罪过同分其咎。此辈注定只收获过失与苦难之果；真正的安乐从不临至他们。

Word by Word

• अदातारः: non-givers (those who do not give)
• अदातारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदातृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• शरण्याः: protectors of the refuge-seeking (those who should give shelter)
• शरण्याः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• राजकिल्बिषभागिनः: sharers in the king's sin
• राजकिल्बिषभागिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजकिल्बिषभागिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• दोषाणाम्: of faults / of evils
• दोषाणाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• एव: only / indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• भोक्तारः: enjoyers/experiencers (those who must undergo)
• भोक्तारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोक्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• सुखानाम्: of pleasures / of happinesses
• सुखानाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• कदाचन: ever / at any time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन

Speaker

नकुल उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nakula
• king (rāja)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Generosity and protection of the vulnerable are central duties; refusing to give and failing to shelter the surrendered makes one complicit in moral wrongdoing and leads to suffering rather than happiness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nakula is speaking within the Shanti Parva’s ethical discourse, emphasizing standards of conduct—especially for those with power or responsibility—by warning that neglect of charity and refuge-protection brings culpability and painful results.