Shloka 21
कुण्डधारोपाख्यानम्
Kuṇḍadhāra-Upākhyāna: Dharma’s Superiority over Wealth and Desire
इस प्रकार तुलाधारने नाना प्रकारके वक्तव्य विषयोंसे युक्त उत्तम भाषण किया। उन्होंने सनातन धर्मका भी वर्णन किया। ब्राह्मण जाजलिने विख्यात प्रभावशाली तुलाधारके वे वचन सुनकर उनके इस तात्पर्यको भलीभाँति हृदयंगम किया
Iti prakāraṃ Tulādhāreṇa nānā-prakārasya vaktavya-viṣayaiḥ yuktaṃ uttamaṃ bhāṣaṇaṃ kṛtam. Tena sanātana-dharmasya api varṇanaṃ kṛtam. Brāhmaṇaḥ Jājaliḥ vikhyāta-prabhāvaśālinaḥ Tulādhārasya tāni vacanāni śrutvā tasya etat tātparyaṃ samyag hṛdayaṅgamaṃ cakāra.
Thus Tulādhāra delivered an excellent discourse, rich with many points worthy of reflection, and he also set forth the nature of the eternal Dharma. Hearing those words of the renowned and powerful Tulādhāra, the brahmin Jājali fully grasped their intended meaning and took it deeply to heart.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That true understanding of Dharma comes through a well-reasoned exposition and, equally, through receptive listening: Jājali internalizes Tulādhāra’s teaching on sanātana-dharma, emphasizing ethical clarity over mere status or outward identity.
Bhīṣma summarizes the episode: Tulādhāra gives a comprehensive discourse on various ethical topics and on eternal Dharma; the brahmin Jājali hears him and fully comprehends the intended purport, accepting the instruction inwardly.