Shloka 54
Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances
“महाराज! जब उसके द्वारा ऐसा कर्म किया जा सकता है, तब वह और क्या नहीं कर सकता? स्वामीने पहले उसके बारेमें जैसा सुन रक््खा है, वह वैसा नहीं है ।। वाड्मात्रेणैव धर्मिष्ठ: स्वभावेन तु दारुण: । धर्मच्छद्मा हायं पापो वृथाचारपरिग्रह:,“वह बातोंसे ही धर्मात्मा बना हुआ है। स्वभावसे तो बड़ा क्रूर है। भीतरसे यह बड़ा पापी है; परंतु ऊपरसे धर्मात्मापनका ढोंग बनाये हुए है। उसका सारा आचार-विचार व्यर्थ दिखावेके लिये है
vāṅmātreṇaiva dharmiṣṭhaḥ svabhāvena tu dāruṇaḥ | dharmacchadmā hy ayaṃ pāpo vṛthācāra-parigrahaḥ ||
Bhishma said: “O King, if he can commit such a deed, what is there that he cannot do? He is not as your majesty has previously heard him to be. With words alone he appears most righteous, but by nature he is harsh and cruel. This man is a sinner who wears dharma as a disguise; his conduct and observances are adopted in vain—mere outward show.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True dharma is measured by inner disposition and consistent conduct, not by eloquent speech or outward observance. A person may appear righteous through words, yet be cruel by nature; such ‘dharma’ is a mask, and discernment is required to judge character.
In the Shanti Parva instruction to the king, Bhishma warns Yudhiṣṭhira about a person whose reputation for righteousness is misleading. He exposes the contrast between public piety and private wickedness, advising the king to see through performative virtue.