Shloka 24
धर्मसूक्ष्मे त्यागप्रधान्यविचारः
Subtle Dharma and the Primacy of Renunciation
कुछ तर्कवादी पण्डित भी अपने पूर्वजन्मके दृढ़ संस्कारोंसे प्रभावित होकर ऐसे मूढ़ हो जाते हैं कि उन्हें शास्त्रके सिद्धान्तको ग्रहण कराना अत्यन्त कठिन हो जाता है। वे आग्रहपूर्वक यही कहते रहते हैं कि “यह (आत्मा, धर्म, परलोक, मर्यादा आदि) कुछ नहीं है! ।। अनृतस्यावमन्तारो वक्तारो जनसंसदि | चरन्ति वसुधां कृत्स्नां बावदूका बहुश्रुता:,किंतु बहुत-से ऐसे बहुश्रुत, बोलनेमें चतुर और विद्वान् भी हैं, जो जनताकी सभामें व्याख्यान देते और उपर्युक्त असत्य मतका खण्डन करते हुए सारी पृथ्वीपर विचरते रहते हैं
anṛtasya avamantāraḥ vaktāraḥ jana-saṃsadi | caranti vasudhāṃ kṛtsnāṃ bāvadūkā bahuśrutāḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: In public assemblies there are loud, glib speakers—well-read in many things—who scorn truth. Roaming over the whole earth, they keep proclaiming falsehood and deriding the established teachings that uphold dharma and right conduct.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Learning and eloquence are not sufficient for wisdom: one may be well-read and persuasive yet still despise truth. The verse warns that public discourse can be dominated by glib voices that undermine dharma, so discernment and commitment to satya are essential.
Yudhiṣṭhira is reflecting on the presence of influential speakers in society who publicly belittle truth and promote false views while traveling widely. The remark frames a broader ethical concern in Śānti Parva about how dharma is challenged and defended in the world.