Shloka 40
वृद्धी च मातापितरी बिभर्त्यन्यांश्व॒ संश्रितान् स्वधर्मनिरतो नित्यं सत्यवागनसूयक:
vṛddhī ca mātāpitarī bibharty anyāṁś ca saṁśritān svadharmanirato nityaṁ satyavāg anasūyakaḥ
Il soutient les vieillards et entretient sa mère et son père ; il fait vivre aussi ceux qui ont cherché refuge auprès de lui. Toujours attaché à son propre dharma, il dit la vérité et demeure sans malveillance ni goût pour la critique.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines righteous character through concrete duties: caring for elderly dependents and one’s parents, protecting those who seek refuge, remaining steadfast in one’s svadharma, speaking truth, and avoiding a censorious or envious attitude.
Vāyudeva is describing the qualities of a dharmic person—someone whose moral worth is shown not by claims but by sustained responsibility, truthful speech, and a non-malicious disposition—framing ethical ideals within the broader wartime setting of the Karṇa Parva.