Shloka 14
Draupadī’s Lament and Theodicy: Dharma, Dice, and Īśvara’s Governance (Āraṇyaka-parva 31)
एते हि धर्ममेवादौ वर्णयन्ति सदानघे । कर्तव्यममरप्रख्या: प्रत्यक्षागमबुद्धय:,अनघे! ये अमरोंके समान विख्यात तथा वेदगम्य विषयको भी प्रत्यक्ष देखनेवाले महर्षि धर्मको ही सबसे प्रथम आचरणमें लानेयोग्य बताते हैं
ete hi dharmam evādau varṇayanti sadānaghe | kartavyam amaraprakhyāḥ pratyakṣāgamabuddhayaḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “For these sages—spotless one—always speak first of dharma. Those who are renowned as godlike, whose understanding rests on both direct perception and authoritative tradition, declare that dharma is what must be placed foremost in practice.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma must be placed first in conduct. The verse emphasizes that the highest authorities—sages with both experiential insight (pratyakṣa) and scriptural grounding (āgama)—prioritize dharma as the foremost guide for action.
Yudhiṣṭhira is responding within a discussion on right conduct, appealing to the testimony of revered sages. He underscores that those considered godlike in wisdom and reputation consistently begin their instruction with dharma and recommend it as the first principle to be enacted.