Shloka 6
व्याजेन चरते धर्ममर्थ व्याजेन रोचते । व्याजेन सिध्यमानेषु धनेषु द्विजसत्तम
vyājena carate dharmam arthaṁ vyājena rocate | vyājena sidhyamāneṣu dhaneṣu dvijasattama ||
Sang pemburu berkata: “Wahai yang terbaik di antara kaum dwija, ia menjalankan dharma hanya sebagai dalih; bahkan pencarian artha (kekayaan) pun ia hiasi dengan dalih. Dan ketika harta berhasil diraih lewat siasat semacam itu, tampilan kesalehan hanyalah selubung belaka.”
व्याध उवाच
Educational Q&A
True dharma is not a mask for self-interest. When righteousness is performed only as a pretext to gain wealth or advantage, it becomes hypocrisy; one must examine motive, not merely outward conduct.
In the Vyādha’s instruction to a Brahmin, he critiques conduct that uses the appearance of dharma as a cover for acquiring wealth. The hunter highlights how people can make even artha seem ‘right’ by dressing it in religious or moral language.