Shloka 46
कृतयुगवर्णनम् तथा राजधर्मोपदेशः
Kṛtayuga Description and Instruction on Royal Dharma
करभारभयाद् भीता गृहस्था: परिमोषका: | मुनिच्छञाकृतिच्छन्ना वाणिज्यमुपजीविन:
karabhārabhayād bhītā gṛhasthāḥ parimoṣakāḥ | municchadākṛticchannā vāṇijyam upajīvinaḥ ||
বৈশম্পায়ন বললেন—ভারী বোঝা বহনের ভয়ে ভীত সেই লুণ্ঠকেরা গৃহস্থের বেশ ধারণ করত। মুনির ছদ্মরূপে আচ্ছন্ন থেকে তারা বাণিজ্যকে জীবিকা করত—আর সেই আড়ালেই চুরি-লুণ্ঠন চালাত।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights adharma through hypocrisy: criminals adopt socially respected identities (householder, ascetic, merchant) as a protective disguise. It warns that outward marks of dharma can be misused, so ethical judgment must consider conduct, not merely appearance.
Vaiśampāyana describes a group of robbers who, fearing the risks of overt banditry and hard carrying-work, conceal their true nature. They present themselves as respectable householders and even as ascetics in appearance, while sustaining themselves through trade as a cover.