Chapter 1 · Prathamo’dhyāyaḥ (First Chapter)
Verse 34
करोमि किं यन्न मनस्तेष्वप्रीतिषु निष्ठुरम् ॥ ३४ ॥
karōmi kiṁ yanna manastēṣvaprītiṣu niṣṭhuram || 34 ||
Translation
'What can I do, since my mind is not harsh towards them, though they are disagreeable?'
Word by word
- karomi
- can I do
- kiṁ
- what
- yat
- that
- na
- not
- manaḥ
- mind
- tēṣu
- towards them
- aprītiṣu
- who are disagreeable, unfriendly
- niṣṭhuram
- harsh, cruel
Meaning
The merchant's lament concludes with a final cry of helplessness. He is a prisoner of his own heart's inclinations. He possesses no agency to change his feelings, despite the overwhelming reasons to do so. This powerlessness is the essence of his suffering.