Shloka 62
Svargārohaṇa-parva Adhyāya 5 — Karmaphala-Nirdeśa and Phalāśruti (कर्मफलनिर्देशः फलश्रुतिश्च)
ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्विरौम्येष न च कश्चित् शूणोति मे । धर्मादर्थक्ष॒ कामश्ष॒ स किमर्थ न सेव्यते
ūrdhvabāhur viraūmyeṣa na ca kaścit śṛṇoti me | dharmād arthaś ca kāmaś ca sa kimarthaṁ na sevyate ||
ವೈಶಂಪಾಯನನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ನಾನು ಎರಡೂ ಕೈಗಳನ್ನು ಮೇಲಕ್ಕೆತ್ತಿ ಮರುಮರು ಕೂಗುತ್ತೇನೆ; ಆದರೆ ನನ್ನ ಮಾತನ್ನು ಯಾರೂ ಕೇಳುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಧರ್ಮದಿಂದ ಮೋಕ್ಷ ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲ, ಅರ್ಥವೂ ಕಾಮವೂ ಸಹ ಸಿದ್ಧವಾಗುತ್ತವೆ; ಹಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ ಜನರು ಅದನ್ನು ಏಕೆ ಆಚರಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ?
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is not merely a moral ideal; it is presented as the foundation that yields all human aims—moksha (liberation) as well as artha (well-being) and kāma (legitimate enjoyment). The lament underscores that people ignore dharma despite its comprehensive benefits.
The speaker (Vaiśampāyana, narrating) voices a proverbial lament: he publicly proclaims the supremacy and practicality of dharma—symbolized by raising both arms and crying out—yet observes that people remain unwilling to listen or live by it.