Shanti Parva Adhyaya 168 Shloka 14 - Mahabharata | Chinese | Vedapath

Vyasa

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Shloka 14

Devanagari script

अर्थस्यावयवावेतौ धर्मकामाविति श्रुति: । अर्थसिद्धया विनिर्वृत्तावुभावेती भविष्यत:,श्रुतिका कथन है कि धर्म और काम अर्थके ही दो अवयव हैं। अर्थकी सिद्धिसे उन दोनोंकी भी सिद्धि हो जायगी

Transliteration

arghasyāvayavāv etau dharmakāmāv iti śrutiḥ | arthasiddhyā vinirvṛttāv ubhāv etī bhaviṣyataḥ ||

Translation

阿周那说：“经教宣示：法（dharma）与欲（kāma）乃利（artha）的两种组成。利一旦得以成就，法与欲的圆满也将自然而然随之而来。”

Word by Word

अर्थस्यof wealth/means (artha)

अवयवौtwo parts/constituents

एतौthese two

धर्मdharma, righteousness

कामौtwo desires/pleasures

इतिthus

श्रुतिःthe teaching/tradition (scriptural statement)

अर्थwealth/means (artha)

सिद्ध्याby the attainment/accomplishment

विनिर्वृत्तौbeing brought about/fulfilled (both)

उभौboth

एवindeed/just

इतिthus

भविष्यतःwill be / will come to be (the two)

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents a hierarchy of aims: artha (material means) is treated as the practical foundation, and dharma (righteous conduct) and kāma (legitimate enjoyment) are said to be fulfilled when artha is secured—emphasizing the instrumental role of resources in sustaining both duty and well-being.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the didactic discussions of Śānti Parva, Arjuna speaks in a reflective, argumentative mode, citing śruti (scriptural authority) to support a view about the relationship among the human goals—asserting that dharma and kāma depend upon the successful attainment of artha.