Shloka 28
अग्निनाम-वंश-निरूपणम् | Agni-Names and Lineage Enumeration
बहु लोके विपर्यस्तं दृश्यते द्विजसत्तम । धर्मयुक्तमधर्म च तत्र कि प्रतिभाति ते,द्विजश्रेष्ठ! इस प्रकार जगत्में अनेक उलटी बातें दिखायी देती हैं। अधर्म भी धर्मसे युक्त प्रतीत होता है। इस विषयमें आप क्या समझते हैं?
bahu loke viparyastaṃ dṛśyate dvijasattama | dharmayuktam adharmaṃ ca tatra kiṃ pratibhāti te dvijaśreṣṭha ||
Mārkaṇḍeya berkata: “Wahai yang terbaik di antara para dwija, di dunia banyak hal tampak terbalik; bahkan adharma pun seakan berselimut dharma. Dalam perkara ini, wahai brahmana utama, apa yang tampak dalam pengertianmu?”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights moral ambiguity: in the world, appearances can invert values so that adharma may look like dharma. It prompts discernment (viveka) rather than relying on outward labels, urging a deeper inquiry into what truly constitutes righteousness.
Mārkaṇḍeya addresses a respected brāhmaṇa interlocutor, observing that worldly events often seem upside down and that wrongdoing can masquerade as righteousness. He asks the listener to state their understanding, setting up a reflective discussion on how to judge dharma amid confusing circumstances.