Anvaya 010: Sanskrit verse and reflection

Entry 010 of 012

Mahabharata, Book 18, Chapter 5, verse 50

First, let it be heard

अन्वय/ Anvaya

Verse 010

A Sanskrit verse

न जातु कामान्न भयान्न लोभाद् धर्मं त्यजेज्जीवितस्यापि हेतोः। नित्यो धर्मः सुखदुःखे त्वनित्ये जीवो नित्यो हेतुरस्य त्वनित्यः॥

What does it convey?

Never abandon dharma, righteousness, for desire, fear, or greed, not even to save one’s life. Dharma endures; pleasure and pain do not.

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न जातु लोभाद्

धर्मं हेतोः।

धर्मः सुखदुःखे

॥

What does it convey?

Never abandon dharma, righteousness, for desire, fear, or greed, not even to save one’s life. Dharma endures; pleasure and pain do not.

The beauty of this verse

Four refusals, then a verdict.

Its opening gathers three forces that can bend anyone: desire, fear, and greed. Then it raises the stakes with one more refusal: not even for life. The second half slows down, placing enduring dharma against temporary pleasure and pain. It begins like a command and ends like a verdict.

The verse

Four refusals, then a verdict.