Shloka 1
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 27 — Saṃjaya’s Counsel on Dharma, Desire, and the Non-Perishing of Karma
ऑपनआक्राता बछ। अर: > देवयोनि भोगयोनि है
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | asaṁśayaṁ sañjaya satyam etad dharmo varaḥ karmaṇāṁ yat tvam āttha | jñātvā tu māṁ sañjaya garhayes tvaṁ yadi dharmaṁ yady adharmaṁ careyam ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Sañjaya, without doubt what you have said is true: among all courses of action, dharma is the highest. Yet, Sañjaya, first understand clearly whether I am acting in accordance with dharma or in adharma—only then may you censure me.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is affirmed as the highest standard for action, but moral judgment must be informed: one should evaluate a person’s conduct only after understanding whether it truly aligns with dharma or slips into adharma.
In the Udyoga Parva’s deliberative setting before war, Yudhiṣṭhira responds to Sañjaya’s remarks by agreeing that dharma is paramount, while insisting that any criticism of him should come only after careful assessment of whether his choices are righteous or unrighteous.