Chapter 1 · Prathamo’dhyāyaḥ (First Chapter)
Verse 23
वनमभ्यागतो दुःखी निरस्तश्चाप्तबन्धुभिः। सोऽहं न वेद्मि पुत्राणां कुशलाकुशलात्मिकाम् ॥ २३ ॥
vanamabhyāgatō duḥkhī nirastaścāptabandhubhiḥ | sō’haṁ na vēdmi putrāṇāṁ kuśalākuśalātmikām || 23 ||
Translation
I have come to the forest, sorrowful and abandoned by my trusted relatives. And yet, I do not know whether my sons are in a state of well-being or ill-being.
Word by word
- vanam
- to the forest
- abhyāgataḥ
- have come
- duḥkhī
- sorrowful
- nirastaḥ
- abandoned
- ca
- and
- āptabandhubhiḥ
- by trusted relatives
- saḥ
- that
- aham
- I
- na
- not
- vēdmi
- know
- putrāṇām
- of my sons
- kuśala
- well-being
- akuśala
- ill-being
- ātmikām
- relating to, state of
Meaning
This verse captures the paradoxical nature of attachment (mamatva). Even though his family wronged him and cast him out, the merchant's mind is still tied to them. He is unable to let go of his concern for their welfare, highlighting how attachment causes suffering even after the object of attachment has caused pain.