Shloka 47

Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)

Devanagari script

सुखेन धर्म श्रीमन्तश्नरन्ति शुचिवासस: । संवर्षन्त: फलैदनिर्भुज्जनाश्षान्नमुत्तमम्‌

Transliteration

sukhena dharmaṁ śrīmantas caranti śucivāsasaḥ | saṁvarṣantaḥ phalaiḥ dhānyair bhujānāś cānnam uttamam ||

Translation

阿周那说道：“富足之人，衣着洁净，行持达摩便觉从容。享用上等饮食之时，他们也使果实与谷物丰盈——如同一场‘甘霖’——凭借财富与井然的生活，养护他人。”

Word by Word

• सुखेन: with ease, comfortably
• सुखेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• धर्मम्: dharma, righteous conduct
• धर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• श्रीमन्तः: wealthy, prosperous
• श्रीमन्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमन्त्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• चरन्ति: practice, observe
• चरन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• शुचिवाससः: wearing clean garments
• शुचिवाससः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचिवासस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• संवर्षन्तः: causing to rain down, showering
• संवर्षन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: संवर्षत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, शतृ (present active participle), वृष् (वर्षणे) with सम्-

• फलैः: with fruits
• फलैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• धानैः: with grains
• धानैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धान
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• भुञ्जानाः: eating, enjoying
• भुञ्जानाः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुञ्जान
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, शानच् (present middle participle), भुज् (पालने/भक्षणे) here: भक्षणे

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उत्तमम्: excellent, best
• उत्तमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• prosperous/wealthy men (śrīmantas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Material prosperity, when joined with purity of conduct, can make the practice of dharma easier and can enable generosity—symbolized as ‘raining’ fruits and grains—so that one’s well-being supports the wider community.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna is speaking and reflecting on how wealthy, well-ordered householders can follow dharma comfortably and, through their resources, provide abundant sustenance (food, grains, fruits) for others.