Shloka 16
अधर्ममेनं विपुलं धार्मिक: सन् न बुद्ध्यसे । यत् त्वमात्मानमस्मांश्व॒ प्रशस्यान् न प्रशंससि,“यद्यपि तुम और हम प्रशंसाके पात्र हैं, तो भी तुम जो अपनी और हमारी प्रशंसा नहीं करते हो, यह बहुत बड़ा अधर्म है और तुम धार्मिक होते हुए इस अधर्मको नहीं समझ रहे हो
sañjaya uvāca |
adharmam enaṁ vipulaṁ dhārmikaḥ san na buddhyase |
yat tvam ātmānam asmāṁś ca praśasyān na praśaṁsasi ||
Sañjaya said: “This is a grave unrighteousness, and though you are a man devoted to dharma, you do not perceive it: that you, though worthy of praise—both yourself and us as well—do not offer praise.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames withholding due praise as a moral lapse: recognizing merit and speaking truthfully about it is presented as part of dharma, while failing to acknowledge what is commendable is treated as a serious ethical error.
Sañjaya addresses a listener in a reproachful tone, calling out their failure to commend what is praiseworthy—both in themselves and in Sañjaya’s side—labeling this omission as a ‘great adharma’ despite the listener’s reputation for righteousness.