Chapter 1 · Prathamo’dhyāyaḥ (First Chapter)
Verse 44
दृष्टदोषेऽपि विषये ममत्वाकृष्टमानसौ। यन्मोहो ज्ञानिनोरपि ॥ ४४ ॥
dṛṣṭadōṣē’pi viṣayē mamatvākṛṣṭamānasau | yanmōhō jñāninōrapi || 44 ||
Translation
'Our minds are drawn by a sense of ownership towards those objects (even though) their faults have been seen. Therefore, what is this, O highly fortunate one, that even two knowledgeable persons are subject to such delusion?'
Word by word
- dṛṣṭadoṣe
- whose faults have been seen
- api
- even
- viṣaye
- in the object (the kingdom, the family)
- mamatva
- sense of ownership
- ākṛṣṭa
- drawn, attracted
- mānasau
- minds
- tat
- therefore
- kimetat
- what is this?
- mahābhāga
- O highly fortunate one (addressing the sage)
- yat
- that which
- mōhaḥ
- delusion, infatuation
- jñāninoḥ
- of two knowledgeable persons
Meaning
King Suratha elevates his question from personal suffering to a universal philosophical inquiry. He points out the paradox: both he and the merchant are jñāninah (knowledgeable, aware) of the situation's faults, yet they are still deluded (mohaḥ). He asks the sage to explain the nature of this powerful delusion that overrides knowledge.