Shloka 87
Atithi-prāpti and the Brāhmaṇa’s Deliberation on Triadic Dharma (अतिथिप्राप्तिः धर्मत्रयविचारश्च)
देवा देवर्षयश्नोचुस्तमेवंवादिनं गुरुम् | एकपादस्थिते धर्मे यत्र क्वचन गामिनि
devā devarṣayaś nocus tam evaṃvādinaṃ gurum | ekapādasthite dharme yatra kvacana gāmini
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。そのとき神々と天の聖仙たちは、かく語る尊き師に申し上げた。「ダルマがただ一つの脚で立ち――不安定で、どこへでもさまようようになったなら――いかにすべきでしょうか。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical crisis: when Dharma becomes unstable and no longer firmly established, even divine beings seek guidance. It highlights that in times of moral decline, discernment and right counsel are essential to restore or uphold righteousness.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that the gods and divine seers address a revered teacher who has been speaking on Dharma. They raise a pointed question about a condition where Dharma is reduced to ‘one foot’—a metaphor for weakened righteousness that wanders without firm support.