Shloka 67
Āścarya-kathana: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Dialogue on Sūrya (Vivasvat) and the ‘Second Sun’ Phenomenon
जनमेजय उवाच एवं बहुविध॑ धर्म प्रतिबुद्धैर्निषिवितम् । न कुर्वन्ति कथं विप्रा अन्ये नानाव्रते स्थिता:
Janamejaya uvāca: evaṁ bahuvidhaṁ dharmaṁ pratibuddhair niṣevitam | na kurvanti kathaṁ viprā anye nānāvrate sthitāḥ ||
قال جَنَمِجَيَة: «أيها المُني! إنّ هذا الدَّرْمَ، الغنيَّ بألوانٍ كثيرة وبفضائل شتّى، يمارسه أهل اليقظة والبصيرة. فلماذا لا يلتزم به براهمةٌ آخرون—مع أنّهم قائمون على نذورٍ وشعائر متنوّعة—ولا يجرونه مجرى العمل؟»
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a tension between outward religiosity (many vows and observances) and inward ethical realization (dharma practiced by the truly awakened). It implies that genuine dharma is not guaranteed by ritual discipline alone; it requires understanding and lived integrity.
Janamejaya, in dialogue with a sage, reflects on a dharma described as noble and practiced by enlightened people. He asks why other brāhmaṇas—despite undertaking many different vows—do not adopt that same dharma in their conduct.