पर्जन्यनाथाः पशवो राजानो मित्रबान्धवाः ॥
पतयो बान्धवाः स्त्रीणां ब्राह्मणा वेदबान्धवाः ॥
सत्येन रक्ष्यते धर्मो विद्या योगेन रक्ष्यते ॥
मृजया रक्ष्यते रूपं कुलं वृत्तेन रक्ष्यते ॥
मानेन रक्ष्यते धान्यम् अश्वान् रक्षत्य् अनुक्रमः ॥
अभीक्ष्णदर्शनाद् गावः स्त्रियो रक्ष्याः कुचेलतः ॥
न कुलं वृत्तहीनस्य प्रमाणम् इति मे मतिः ॥
अन्त्येष्व् अपि हि जातानां वृत्तम् एव विशिष्यते ॥
य ईर्ष्युः परवित्तेषु रूपे वीर्ये कुलान्वये ॥
सुखे सौभाग्यसत्कारे तस्य व्याधिर् अनन्तकः ॥
parjanyanāthāḥ paśavo rājāno mitrabāndhavāḥ ||
patayo bāndhavāḥ strīṇāṃ brāhmaṇā vedabāndhavāḥ ||
satyena rakṣyate dharmo vidyā yogena rakṣyate ||
mṛjayā rakṣyate rūpaṃ kulaṃ vṛttena rakṣyate ||
mānena rakṣyate dhānyam aśvān rakṣaty anukramaḥ ||
abhīkṣṇadarśanād gāvaḥ striyo rakṣyāḥ kucelataḥ ||
na kulaṃ vṛttahīnasya pramāṇam iti me matiḥ ||
antyeṣv api hi jātānāṃ vṛttam eva viśiṣyate ||
ya īrṣyuḥ paravitteṣu rūpe vīrye kulānvaye ||
sukhe saubhāgyasatkāre tasya vyādhir anantakaḥ ||
Cattle depend on rain as their lord, kings depend on their friends as kin, women's husbands are their kinsfolk, and brahmins are bound to the sacred knowledge as their kin. Dharma is preserved by truth, learning is preserved by practice; beauty is preserved by care, and a family is preserved by conduct. Grain is preserved by measure, and horses are kept in order by regular care; cows are preserved by frequent inspection, women by protecting them from neglect. It is my opinion that lineage is no true measure for one without good conduct — even among those of low birth, it is conduct alone that sets a person apart. He who envies another's wealth, beauty, valor, lineage, happiness, or good fortune and honor suffers from a disease that knows no end.
079a0510061e · published Jul 17, 2026, 4:02:44 AM UTC
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The fragment 5.34.36-40 develops the central theme of the Udyoga-parva: an effort toward peace is already underway against the backdrop of an unavoidable war. Dharma is revealed here through speech, the choice of an embassy, faithfulness to promises, and the responsibility kings bear for the consequences of their decisions.