Shloka 27
Adhyāya 125: Raṅga-pradarśana — Arjuna’s Entry and Astric Demonstration (रङ्गप्रदर्शनम्)
न चाप्यहं वर्तयन्ती निर्विशेषं सुनेषु ते । वृत्तिमार्ये चरिष्यामि स्पृशेदेनस्तथा च माम्,आये! मैं आपके पुत्रोंके साथ अपने सगे पुत्रोंकी भाँति बर्ताव नहीं कर सकूँगी। उस दशामें मुझे पाप लगेगा
na cāpy ahaṃ vartayantī nirviśeṣaṃ suneṣu te | vṛttim ārye cariṣyāmi spṛśed enaḥ tathā ca mām ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai wanita mulia, hidup di tengah putra-putramu pun aku takkan mampu bersikap kepada mereka dengan kasih yang sama tanpa pembedaan seperti kepada putra-putraku sendiri. Jika kupaksakan demikian, itu akan menodai diriku dengan cela moral.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic anxiety: pretending impartiality in intimate family relations can itself become ethically blameworthy if it violates one’s truthful capacity and natural obligations. Moral fault (enaḥ) arises not only from overt harm but also from forced, insincere conduct in duties of care.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a woman addresses a noble lady (ārye) and admits she cannot treat the other woman’s sons exactly like her own; attempting to do so would bring her moral taint. The line frames a domestic dilemma about rightful conduct within a blended household.