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Shloka 5

Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy

नानाधर्मफलोपेता नानाकर्मनिवासिता: । नानानिरयनिष्ठान्ता मानुषा बहवो यदा,जब बहुत-से मनुष्य नाना प्रकारके धर्मफलसे संयुक्त होते हैं, नाना प्रकारके कर्मवश विभिन्न स्थानोंमें निवास करते हैं और शुभाशुभ कर्मोके फल-स्वरूप स्वर्ग-नरक आदि नाना अवस्थाओंमें पड़ते हैं, तब वे सहधर्मका निर्वाह किस प्रकार कर सकते हैं?

nānā-dharma-phala-upetā nānā-karma-nivāsitāḥ | nānā-niraya-niṣṭhāntā mānuṣā bahavo yadā, tadā te saha-dharmasya nirvāhaṃ kathaṃ kurvanti? |

ユディシュティラは言った。「多くの人々が、さまざまなダルマの果報を帯び、各々の業によって異なる境遇に住まわされ、善悪の行いの結果として天界や地獄など多様な行き先に落ち着くというのなら、どうして彼らが一つの『サハダルマ(共同の法)』を共に保ち、共に成就できようか。」

नानाvarious, many kinds of
नाना:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनाना
धर्मफलोपेताendowed with the fruits of various dharmas
धर्मफलोपेता:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootधर्मफलोपेत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
नानाvarious, many kinds of
नाना:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनाना
कर्मनिवासिताःmade to dwell (placed) by various karmas
कर्मनिवासिताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकर्मनिवासित
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
नानाvarious, many kinds of
नाना:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनाना
निरयनिष्ठान्ताःhaving their final state in various hells (i.e., ending in hellish conditions)
निरयनिष्ठान्ताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनिरयनिष्ठान्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
मानुषाःhumans, men
मानुषाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमानुष
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
बहवःmany
बहवः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootबहु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
यदाwhen
यदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयदा

युधिछिर उवाच

Y
Yudhiṣṭhira
H
human beings (mānuṣāḥ)
S
svarga (heaven)
N
niraya (hell)

Educational Q&A

The verse frames an ethical problem: since individuals experience different karmic results and destinies (heaven/hell) based on varied deeds, it becomes difficult to define and sustain a single ‘shared dharma’ applicable to all. It invites reflection on how collective obligations can be upheld amid unequal moral outcomes.

Yudhiṣṭhira poses a philosophical question in the Anuśāsana discussions on dharma, asking how people with diverse actions and corresponding results—leading to different states like heaven and hell—can jointly practice and maintain common duties (saha-dharma).