Shloka 9
Vasiṣṭha–Karāla-Janaka Saṃvāda: Aśuddha-Sevana, Guṇa-Dr̥ṣṭi, and Sāṃkhya–Yoga Ekārthatā
Mahābhārata 12.293
(धर्मेण सहितं यत् तु भवेदल्पफलोदयम् । तत् कार्यमविशड्केन कर्मात्यन्तं सुखावहम् ।।
dharmeṇa sahitaṃ yat tu bhaved alpaphalodayam | tat kāryam aviśaṅkena karmātyantaṃ sukhāvaham || yo hṛtvā gosahasrāṇi nṛpo dadyād arakṣitāḥ | sa śabdamātraphalabhāgū rājā bhavati taskaraḥ ||
Dijo Parāśara: Aunque una acción dé sólo una ganancia pequeña e inmediata, si está unida al dharma debe hacerse sin vacilar, pues al final trae el bienestar supremo. Pero el rey que arrebata a otros miles de vacas, las entrega como “caridad” y, sin embargo, no protege a sus súbditos—ése sólo obtiene la fama vacía de generoso y de rey; en verdad es un ladrón y un salteador.
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do dharma-aligned actions even when they seem to yield little immediate benefit, because their long-term result is true welfare. Also, charity is invalid if it is funded by theft and paired with neglect of a ruler’s primary duty—protection; such a ruler is a thief, not a benefactor.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on conduct and kingship, Parāśara contrasts genuine dharmic action with performative generosity. He condemns a king who confiscates others’ cattle to donate them while failing to safeguard the people, declaring that such ‘kingship’ and ‘charity’ are only in name.