Mahabharata · 5.131.41-42
॥
Devanāgarī
यस्य शूरस्य विक्रान्तैर् एधन्ते बान्धवाः सुखम् ॥
त्रिदशा इव शक्रस्य साधु तस्येह जीवितम् ॥
स्वबाहुबलम् आश्रित्य यो ऽभ्युज्जीवति मानवः ॥
स लोके लभते कीर्तिं परत्र च शुभां गतिम् ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
yasya śūrasya vikrāntair edhante bāndhavāḥ sukham ||
tridaśā iva śakrasya sādhu tasyeha jīvitam ||
svabāhubalam āśritya yo 'bhyujjīvati mānavaḥ ||
sa loke labhate kīrtiṃ paratra ca śubhāṃ gatim ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
यस्यyasyawhose; of whom
शूरस्यśūrasyaof Shura; of King Shura
विक्रान्तैर्vikrāntairby deeds of valor; by valorous acts
एधन्तेedhanteprosper; flourish
बान्धवाःbāndhavāḥkinsmen; relatives
सुखम्sukhamhappily; in comfort
त्रिदशाtridaśāthe thirty gods; the gods
इवivaas; like
शक्रस्यśakrasyaof Shakra; of Indra
साधुsādhugood; excellent
तस्येहtasyehahis here; his in this world
जीवितम्jīvitamlife; existence
स्वबाहुबलम्svabāhubalamthe strength of his own arms; his own might
आश्रित्यāśrityarelying upon; having taken refuge in
योyowho; the one who
ऽभ्युज्जीवति'bhyujjīvatiraises himself to life; rises to a fuller life
मानवःmānavaḥa man; a human being
सsahe; that one
लोकेlokein this world; among people
लभतेlabhateobtains; gains
कीर्तिंkīrtiṃfame; renown
परत्रparatrain the world beyond; after death
चcaand; also
शुभांśubhāṃauspicious; fair
गतिम्gatimpath; destination
Translation
'The life of that hero by whose valorous deeds his kinsmen happily prosper, as the thirty gods prosper under Shakra, is praiseworthy in this world. The man who relies on the strength of his own arms and raises himself to life gains fame in this world and a fair destiny in the world beyond.'
Version
c44f4766c24f · published Jul 17, 2026, 5:59:56 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The conclusion of the story states plainly the measure of a worthy life: a man must rise by his own strength and become a support for his own people. Such fame endures both in this world and beyond it.