Shloka 2

धर्मसूक्ष्मे त्यागप्रधान्यविचारः

Subtle Dharma and the Primacy of Renunciation

Devanagari script

आकुलानि च शास्त्राणि हेतुभिश्चिन्तितानि च । निश्चयश्चैव यो मन्त्रे वेदाहं तं यथाविधि,परस्परविरोधी भावोंसे युक्त जो शास्त्र-वाक्य हैं, उनपर भी मैंने युक्तिपूर्वक विचार किया है। वेदमें उन दोनों प्रकारके वाक्योंका जो सुनिश्चित सिद्धान्त है, उसे भी मैं विधिपूर्वक जानता हूँ

Transliteration

ākulāni ca śāstrāṇi hetubhiś cintitāni ca | niścayaś caiva yo mantre vedāhaṃ taṃ yathāvidhi ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “I have reflected, with reasoning, upon scriptural statements that are perplexing and even mutually contradictory. And I know, in due manner, the settled conclusion that the Veda establishes regarding such matters of counsel and doctrine.”

Word by Word

• {'ākulāni': 'confused, perplexing, unsettled', 'śāstrāṇi': 'authoritative teachings

• treatises on dharma', 'hetubhiḥ': 'with reasons

• by logical grounds', 'cintitāni': 'considered

• reflected upon', 'niścayaḥ': 'certainty

• final determination', 'ca eva': 'and indeed

• emphatically', 'yaḥ': 'which

• that', 'mantre': 'in counsel/teaching

• in authoritative formulation (mantra-like statement)', 'veda': 'the Veda

• revealed authority', 'ahaṃ': 'I', 'tam': 'that (conclusion)', 'yathāvidhi': 'according to proper method

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Veda

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

That apparent contradictions in śāstra should be examined through reasoned reflection, and that one should seek the Veda’s niścaya—the settled, methodical conclusion—rather than clinging to isolated, conflicting statements.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s post-war instruction on dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira presents himself as having already scrutinized difficult and conflicting teachings and claims knowledge of the Vedic resolution, setting the stage for deeper guidance on righteous conduct.