Shloka 15
Daṇḍa, Ahiṃsā, and Proportional Kingship: The Dyumatsena–Satyavān Dialogue (दण्ड-अहिंसा-विवेकः)
कामादन्येच्छया चान्ये कारणैरपरैस्तथा । असन्तो<पि वृथाचारं भजन्ते बहवो5परे
kāmād anyecchayā cānye kāraṇair aparais tathā | asanto 'pi vṛthācāraṃ bhajante bahavo 'pare ||
قال يودهيشثيرا: إنّ بعض الناس يزاولون الدارما بدافع الشهوة والرغبة؛ وآخرين يفعلون ذلك إرضاءً لمشيئة غيرهم؛ وغيرهم يعملون لأسباب شتّى. وكثيرون ممّن ليسوا أهلَ فضيلةٍ حقًّا يتشبّثون بسلوكٍ أجوفَ متكلَّف، فينشرون مظهرَ الاستقامة دون جوهرها.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is often pursued for mixed motives—desire, social pressure, or other causes—and therefore outward observance alone is unreliable; true righteousness depends on inner virtue and sincere intent, not mere display.
In the Śānti Parva’s reflective dialogue, Yudhiṣṭhira raises a moral concern: he observes that many people perform ‘dharma’ for self-serving or external reasons, and that even unvirtuous persons can imitate religious conduct, creating confusion about what genuine dharma looks like.