Shloka 25
Śānti-parva 168: Śoka-nivṛtti-buddhi (The Cognition that Reduces Grief) and Piṅgalā’s Nairāśya
अनर्थस्य न कामो<स्ति तथार्थो5धर्मिण: कुत: । तस्मादुद्धिजते लोको धर्मार्थाद् यो बहिष्कृत:
anarthasya na kāmo 'sti tathārtho 'dharmiṇaḥ kutaḥ | tasmād udvijate loko dharmārthād yo bahiṣkṛtaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Pour celui qui manque de richesse, il ne peut y avoir accomplissement du désir ; et pour celui qui est sans droiture, comment y aurait-il richesse ? C’est pourquoi le monde s’alarme et se tient sur ses gardes devant celui qui est exclu d’une prospérité juste, celui qui n’a point de moyens d’existence fondés sur le dharma.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Desire (kāma) depends on means (artha), but artha that is stable and socially acceptable depends on dharma. A person cut off from dharma-grounded prosperity becomes a source of anxiety for society, because lack of righteous means tends to produce insecurity, mistrust, and harmful conduct.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance and ethics, Vaiśampāyana narrates a general moral principle: poverty frustrates desires, and unrighteousness undermines the acquisition of legitimate wealth; consequently, society feels disturbed by one who lacks dharma-based livelihood.