Shloka 16
Draupadī’s Lament and Theodicy: Dharma, Dice, and Īśvara’s Governance (Āraṇyaka-parva 31)
उन्मत्तान् मन्यते बाल: सर्वानागतनिश्चयान् | धर्माभिशड्को नान्यस्मात् प्रमाणमधिगच्छति,धर्मके विषयमें संशय रखनेवाला बालबुद्धि मानव जिन्हें धर्मके तत्त्वका निश्चय हो गया है, उन समस्त ज्ञानीजनोंको उन्मत्त समझता है; अतः वह बालबुद्धि दूसरे किसीसे कोई शास्त्र-प्रमाण नहीं ग्रहण करता
unmattān manyate bālaḥ sarvān āgata-niścayān | dharmābhiśaṅko nānyasmāt pramāṇam adhigacchati ||
إن صاحب العقل الطفولي، إذا شكّ في الدَّرما، حسبَ جميع الحكماء الذين بلغوا اليقين بثبوتها كأنهم مجانين. ولذلك، وبفهمٍ غير ناضج، لا يقبل من أحدٍ برهانًا ولا شهادةً معتبرةً في شأن الدَّرما.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Moral skepticism combined with immaturity leads a person to dismiss the wise as irrational and to reject valid sources of knowledge (pramāṇa) about dharma; humility and receptivity to authority and reason are necessary for ethical understanding.
Yudhiṣṭhira is articulating a reflection on how a doubter of dharma behaves: he misjudges those who are settled in dharma and refuses to accept guidance or authoritative testimony, highlighting a barrier to learning and right conduct.