Shloka 35
Draupadī’s Lament and Theodicy: Dharma, Dice, and Īśvara’s Governance (Āraṇyaka-parva 31)
कर्मणां श्रुतपुण्यानां पापानां च फलोदय: । प्रभवश्वात्ययश्चैव देवगुह्दानि भाविनि,भामिनि! वेदोक्त पुण्य देनेवाले सत्कर्मों और अनिष्टकारी पापकर्मोंका फलोदय तथा उत्पत्ति और प्रलय--ये सब देवगुह्य हैं (देवता ही उन्हें जानते हैं)
karmaṇāṃ śrutapuṇyānāṃ pāpānāṃ ca phalodayaḥ | prabhavaś cātyayaś caiva devaguhyāni bhāmini ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “The arising of results from actions—both the meritorious deeds praised in the Veda and sinful deeds—as well as their origin and their passing away: all this is a secret known to the gods, O fair lady.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The precise mechanics of how karmic results arise, where they originate, and how they cease are ultimately beyond ordinary human certainty; they are ‘divine secrets.’ The verse encourages humility in moral reasoning while still affirming that deeds—good and bad—bear results.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a woman (bhāminī) and reflects on the mystery of karmic causation: the fruition of Veda-approved meritorious acts and of sinful acts, along with their emergence and dissolution, is said to be known fully only to the gods.