Shloka 40

नरनारायण-नारदसंवादः

Nara-Nārāyaṇa–Nārada Discourse on Vision, Elements, and Entry into Vāsudeva

Devanagari script

प्रमादरहित पराक्रमी शूरवीर भी ऐश्वर्य तथा मदिराके मदसे उन्मत्त रहनेवाले शठ मनुष्योंकी सेवा करते हैं ।।

Transliteration

pramāda-rahitaḥ parākramī śūra-vīraḥ api aiśvarya-tathā madirā-mada-se unmattān śaṭha-manuṣyānāṃ sevāṃ kurvanti. kleśāḥ parinivartante keṣāñcid asamīkṣitāḥ; svaṃ svaṃ ca punar anyeṣāṃ na kiñcid adhigamyate.

Translation

那罗陀说道：“即便是警醒而英勇的豪杰、力行之士，有时也会沦为侍奉奸诈之人——那些因权势与财富而沉醉、又为酒而癫狂者。世间亦复如是：有些人的忧患无人察觉便自消退；而另一些人却在应得之时一无所获，甚至连本属己有之物也得不到，因为他们的资财被转移给了他人。”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'pramāda-rahitaḥ', 'definition': 'free from negligence

• vigilant, careful'}, {'term': 'parākramī', 'definition': 'mighty, energetic, possessing valor'}, {'term': 'śūra-vīraḥ', 'definition': 'heroic warrior

• brave man'}, {'term': 'aiśvarya', 'definition': 'sovereignty, power, prosperity'}, {'term': 'madirā', 'definition': 'liquor, intoxicating drink'}, {'term': 'mada', 'definition': 'intoxication

• also pride/arrogance born of power or wealth'}, {'term': 'unmatta', 'definition': 'maddened, frenzied, out of control'}, {'term': 'śaṭha', 'definition': 'deceitful, crafty, dishonest'}, {'term': 'sevā', 'definition': 'service, attendance, dependence upon'}, {'term': 'kleśāḥ', 'definition': 'afflictions, hardships, sufferings'}, {'term': 'parinivartante', 'definition': 'turn back, cease, come to an end'}, {'term': 'asamīkṣitāḥ', 'definition': 'unobserved, unconsidered, without being noticed'}, {'term': 'svaṃ svaṃ', 'definition': 'one’s own (share/wealth/due) respectively'}, {'term': 'anyeṣām', 'definition': 'of others'}, {'term': 'na kiñcid adhigamyate', 'definition': 'nothing is obtained/received'}]

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse warns that even capable and disciplined people can become entangled in serving deceitful, power-intoxicated persons; it also highlights the uneven workings of worldly fortune—some sufferings end unnoticed, while others fail to receive even their rightful share. The ethical thrust is to be discerning in whom one serves and to recognize how pride, wealth, and intoxication distort relationships and justice.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, Nārada is speaking in a reflective, advisory mode. He comments on social and moral realities: the paradox of heroes serving unworthy masters and the unpredictable cessation of troubles, alongside the frustration that people may not obtain their own due because resources and attention are misdirected.