kaccin nābhihato 'bhāvaiḥ śabdādibhir amaṅgalaiḥ na dattam uktam arthibhya āśayā yat pratiśrutam
Synonyms
kaccit—whether; na—yourself; abhihataḥ—the brahmins; abhāvaiḥ—the Child; śabda-ādibhiḥ—the cow; amaṅgalaiḥ—the deseased; na—the woman; dattam—having appraoched for protection; uktam—any living being; arthibhyaḥ—whether; āśayā—not given shelter; yat—deserving protection.
Translation
You are always the protector of deserving living beings such as the brahmin, the child, the cow, the woman, the deseased or any other living being deserving to be protected. Could you not give such living beings protection even though approached for shelter ?
Purport
A kshatriya royal order or a rich man is sometimes visited by persons who are in need of money. When they come for asking such donation it is the duty of the possessor of wealth to give in charity in consideration of the person place and time. If a Kshatriya or richman fails to comply with such obligation he must be very sorry for this discrepancy. Similarly one should not fail to keep up his promise of giving in charity. These discrepancies are sometimes causes of despondecy and thus failing person becomes subjected to criticism with unfriendly and inauspicious words which might be also the cause of Arjuna's plight.
The Brahmin who are always engaged in researching knowledge for the society's welfare work both materially and spiritually deserve the protection of the king in all respects. Similarlly the children of the state, the cow, the deseased person, the woman and the old man specifically require the protection of the state or Kshatriya King. If such deserving living beings do not get protection by the Kshatriya or the royal order or by the state it is certainly shameful for such degraded Kshartya or the state. Maharaj Yudhisther was anxious to know about this discrepancy on the part of Arjuna if such things had actually happened.