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 ||
वैशंपायन म्हणाले—मी दोन्ही हात वर उचलून वारंवार आर्त हाक देतो, तरी माझे कोणी ऐकत नाही। धर्मापासून मोक्षच नव्हे, अर्थ आणि कामही सिद्ध होतात; मग लोक त्याचे आचरण का करीत नाहीत?
वैशम्पायन उवाच
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.