Shloka 6

Vasiṣṭha on Saṃsāra, Guṇas, and Misattributed Agency

Mahābhārata 12.292

Devanagari script

धर्म चाहनेवाले पुरुषको क्रूरकर्मके द्वारा धनका उपार्जन नहीं करना चाहिये। अपनी शक्तिके अनुसार समस्त शुभ कर्म करे। धन बढ़ानेकी चिन्तामें न पड़े ।।

Transliteration

dharmaṃ cāhanenavāle puruṣaḥ krūrakarmabhiḥ dhanasyopārjanaṃ na kuryāt | svaśaktyā samastāni śubhāni karmāṇi kuryāt | dhanavṛddhicintāyāṃ na patet || apo hi prayataḥ śītās tāpitā jvalanena vā | śaktito ’tithaye dattvā kṣudhārtāyāśnute phalam ||

Translation

波罗舍罗教诲说：求法之人，不应以残暴或伤害之业来聚财；当量力而行，修诸吉善之事，不可为增益财物之忧虑所吞没。因为凡能审时令、随己之力、以清净之心，施与饥渴来宾以凉水或火温之水，并供以饮食者，必得殊胜功德。

Word by Word

• āpaḥ: waters; water
• āpaḥ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (prātipadika: ap-)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• hi: indeed; for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi

• prayatāḥ: careful; prepared; purified
• prayatāḥ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prayata (prātipadika: prayata-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• śītāḥ: cold
• śītāḥ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śīta (prātipadika: śīta-)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• tāpitāḥ: heated; warmed
• tāpitāḥ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tap (dhātu) → tāpita (PPP)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• jvalanena: by fire; by flame
• jvalanena: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: jvalana (prātipadika: jvalana-)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• vā: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā

• śaktitaḥ: according to one's ability
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śakti (prātipadika: śakti-)

• atithaye: to a guest
• atithaye: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: atithi (prātipadika: atithi-)
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• dattvā: having given
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (dhātu) → dattvā (absolutive)
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• kṣudhārtāya: to one afflicted by hunger
• kṣudhārtāya: Sampradana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣudhā-ārta (prātipadika: kṣudhārtá-)
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• aśnute: obtains; enjoys
• Type: Verb
• Root: aś (dhātu)
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada

• phalam: fruit; result
• phalam: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (prātipadika: phala-)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

पराशर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• atithi (guest)
• water (cool or heated)
• fire

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Wealth should not be pursued through harmful or cruel means; one should do good deeds within one’s capacity and practice simple, sincere hospitality—such as offering season-appropriate water and food to a hungry, thirsty guest—which yields great merit.

What is happening in the narrative?

Parāśara is instructing on dharma in the Śānti Parva, emphasizing ethical livelihood and the religious-ethical value of caring for guests through modest acts of giving.