Shloka 54

न लोभान्न पुन: कामान्न देवत्वं पुन: सुखम्‌ । न च सर्वामरैश्वर्य कामये त्रिदशाधिप,तब महेन्द्रने प्रसन्नचित्त हो हँसते हुए-से कहा--“धनंजय! जब तुम यहाँतक आ पहुँचे, तब तुम्हें अस्त्रोंको लेकर क्या करना है? अब इच्छानुसार उत्तम लोक माँग लो; क्योंकि तुम्हें उत्तम गति प्राप्त हुई है।। यह सुनकर धनंजयने पुनः देवराजसे कहा--देवेश्वर! मैं अपने भाइयोंको वनमें छोड़कर (शत्रुओंसे) वैरका बदला लिये बिना लोभ अथवा कामनाके वशीभूत हो न तो देवत्व चाहता हूँ, न सुख और न सम्पूर्ण देवताओंका एऐश्वर्य प्राप्त कर लेनेकी ही मेरी इच्छा है। यदि मैंने वैसा किया तो सदाके लिये सम्पूर्ण लोकोंमें मुझे महान्‌ अपयश प्राप्त होगा”

na lobhān na punaḥ kāmān na devatvaṁ punaḥ sukham | na ca sarvāmareśvaryaṁ kāmaye tridaśādhipa ||

毗湿摩波耶那说道:阿周那对三十三天之主因陀罗表明:他并非出于贪婪或欲望而求恩赐——不求神位,不求天乐,亦不求统御诸天的权柄。既将兄弟留在林中,他决不在报复仇敌之怨之前接受天界的奖赏;否则,他说,他将在诸世界中蒙受巨大而长久的耻名。

nanot
na:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna
lobhātfrom greed / out of greed
lobhāt:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootlobha
Formmasculine, ablative, singular
nanot
na:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna
punaḥagain; moreover
punaḥ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootpunaḥ
kāmātfrom desire / out of desire
kāmāt:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootkāma
Formmasculine, ablative, singular
nanot
na:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna
devatvamgodhood; divinity
devatvam:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootdevatva
Formneuter, accusative, singular
nanot
na:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna
punaḥagain; moreover
punaḥ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootpunaḥ
sukhamhappiness; pleasure
sukham:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootsukha
Formneuter, accusative, singular
nanot
na:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna
caand
ca:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca
sarvaentire; all
sarva:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootsarva
Formneuter, accusative, singular
amaraof the immortals (gods)
amara:
TypeNoun
Rootamara
Formmasculine, genitive, plural
aiśvaryamsovereignty; lordship; power
aiśvaryam:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootaiśvarya
Formneuter, accusative, singular
kāmayeI desire
kāmaye:
TypeVerb
Root√kam (kāmay-)
Formpresent indicative, 1st, singular, parasmaipada
tridaśaof the thirty (gods); of the gods
tridaśa:
TypeNoun
Roottridaśa
Formmasculine, genitive, plural
adhipaO lord
adhipa:
TypeNoun
Rootadhipa
Formmasculine, vocative, singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
I
Indra (Tridaśādhipa)
A
Arjuna (Dhanañjaya, implied by context)
T
the gods (amarāḥ; tridaśāḥ)

Educational Q&A

True dharma is not driven by greed or desire, even when the reward is divine status or heavenly sovereignty. Arjuna prioritizes honor, responsibility, and justice for his family over personal pleasure and power.

In the context of Arjuna’s encounter with Indra, he is offered the chance to ask for an excellent heavenly boon. Arjuna responds that he does not want godhood, heavenly happiness, or rule over the gods; he must first fulfill his duty to his brothers and address their enemies, otherwise he would incur lasting disgrace.