Shloka 87
Āścarya-kathana: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Dialogue on Sūrya (Vivasvat) and the ‘Second Sun’ Phenomenon
इत्थं हि दुश्चरो धर्म एष पार्थिवसत्तम | यथैव त्वं तथैवान्ये भवन्तीह विमोहिता:,नृपश्रेष्ठ इस तरह यह धर्म दुष्कर है। तुम्हारी तरह दूसरे लोग भी इसके विषयमें मोहित हो जाते हैं
itthaṃ hi duścaro dharma eṣa pārthivasattama | yathaiva tvaṃ tathaivānye bhavantīha vimohitāḥ ||
Wahai raja terbaik, dharma ini sungguh sukar dijalankan. Sebagaimana engkau menjadi bingung karenanya, demikian pula orang lain di sini pun terperdaya tentangnya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is subtle and difficult to live out in practice; even sincere and capable people—especially rulers responsible for complex decisions—can become confused about what is right.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a kingly listener, acknowledging the listener’s confusion and generalizing it: many others, like him, become deluded regarding the demands and true nature of dharma.