Shloka 25
Śānti-parva 168: Śoka-nivṛtti-buddhi (The Cognition that Reduces Grief) and Piṅgalā’s Nairāśya
अनर्थस्य न कामो<स्ति तथार्थो5धर्मिण: कुत: । तस्मादुद्धिजते लोको धर्मार्थाद् यो बहिष्कृत:
anarthasya na kāmo 'sti tathārtho 'dharmiṇaḥ kutaḥ | tasmād udvijate loko dharmārthād yo bahiṣkṛtaḥ ||
বৈশম্পায়ন বললেন—যার ধন নেই, তার কামনা পূর্ণ হয় না; আর যে অধার্মিক, তার ধনই বা কোথা থেকে আসবে? অতএব যে ব্যক্তি ধর্মসম্মত সমৃদ্ধি থেকে বঞ্চিত, তাকে দেখে জগৎ উদ্বিগ্ন ও সতর্ক থাকে।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Desire (kāma) depends on means (artha), but artha that is stable and socially acceptable depends on dharma. A person cut off from dharma-grounded prosperity becomes a source of anxiety for society, because lack of righteous means tends to produce insecurity, mistrust, and harmful conduct.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance and ethics, Vaiśampāyana narrates a general moral principle: poverty frustrates desires, and unrighteousness undermines the acquisition of legitimate wealth; consequently, society feels disturbed by one who lacks dharma-based livelihood.