Shloka 37
जाजलिर्वाच न वै मुनीनां शृणुम: सम तत्त्वं पृच्छामि ते वाणिज कष्टमेतत् । पूर्वे पूर्वे चास्य नावेक्षमाणा नात: पर तमृषय: स्थापयन्ति,जाजलिने पूछा--वैश्यप्रवर! मैंने आत्मयाजी मुनियोंके समीप तुम्हारेद्वारा प्रतिपादित तत्त्वको कभी नहीं सुना। सम्भवत: यह समझनेमें कठिन भी है, क्योंकि पूर्वकालीन महर्षियोंने उसके ऊपर विशेष विचार नहीं किया है। जिन्होंने विचार किया है, उन्होंने भी उत्तम होनेपर भी इस धर्मकी जगत्में स्थापना नहीं की है; अतः मैं तुमसे ही पूछता हूँ
Jājaliḥ uvāca—na vai munīnāṁ śṛṇumaḥ sama-tattvaṁ pṛcchāmi te vāṇija kaṣṭam etat | pūrve pūrve cāsya nāvekṣamāṇā nātaḥ paraṁ tam ṛṣayaḥ sthāpayanti ||
Jājali said: “Among the sages I have never heard this doctrine of equal truth that you proclaim, O merchant. It is indeed difficult to grasp. The seers of old did not closely examine it; and even those who did, though it is excellent, have not established this dharma in the world. Therefore I ask you—explain it to me.”
चुलाधार उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a key ethical claim—Culādhāra’s ‘sama-tattva’ (impartial, equal regard) is presented as a high dharma that even many sages did not fully examine or successfully establish in society. Jājali’s response highlights that true dharma may be subtle, counter-traditional, and requires careful inquiry rather than mere reliance on precedent.
In the Jājali–Culādhāra dialogue of Śānti Parva, the ascetic Jājali admits he has not heard such a doctrine among sages and finds it difficult. He notes that ancient seers did not sufficiently reflect on it or institutionalize it, and therefore he directly asks the merchant Culādhāra to explain and clarify the teaching.