Shloka 30
Draupadī’s Lament and Theodicy: Dharma, Dice, and Īśvara’s Governance (Āraṇyaka-parva 31)
फलदं चल्विह विज्ञाय धातारं श्रेयसि ध्रुवम् धर्म ते व्यचरन् कृष्णे तद्धि श्रेय: सनातनम्,कृष्णे! यहाँ धर्मका फल देनेवाले ईश्वर अवश्य हैं, यह बात जानकर ही उन ऋषि आदिकोंने धर्मका आचरण किया है। धर्म ही सनातन श्रेय है
phaladaṃ khalv iha vijñāya dhātāraṃ śreyasi dhruvam | dharmaṃ te vyacaran kṛṣṇe tad dhi śreyaḥ sanātanam ||
O Kṛṣṇā, da jene Weisen und Ältesten mit Gewissheit erkannten, dass der Schöpfer (Dhātṛ) hier wahrhaft der unbeirrbare Spender der Früchte der Taten ist—zumal dessen, was zum höchsten Heil führt—, übten sie Dharma. Denn Dharma allein ist das ewige wahre Wohlergehen.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is the eternal path of true welfare (śreyas). The sages practiced dharma because they were convinced that an ordaining divine principle (Dhātā/Īśvara) reliably dispenses the fruits of actions; therefore righteous conduct is never ultimately wasted.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Draupadī (called Kṛṣṇā), affirming that the tradition of sages rests on confidence in a moral order: God/Providence gives the results of deeds. He uses this to justify steadfast adherence to dharma even amid suffering and uncertainty.