Shloka 50
यज्ञोपवीतधरणं यज्ञो धर्मक्रियास्तथा | भृत्यानां भरणं धर्म: कृते कर्मण्यमोघता
yajñopavītadharaṇaṃ yajño dharmakriyās tathā | bhṛtyānāṃ bharaṇaṃ dharmaḥ kṛte karmaṇy amoghatā
Śrī Maheśvara bersabda: “Memakai benang suci (yajñopavīta), melaksanakan korban suci, dan melakukan amalan-amalan dharma sememangnya kewajipan; demikian juga menanggung dan memelihara mereka yang bergantung di bawah jagaan seseorang adalah dharma. Dan apabila sesuatu perbuatan telah dimulakan, menyempurnakannya dengan tepat dan tanpa gagal juga adalah dharma.”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is not limited to ritual markers like the sacred thread or sacrificial rites; it also includes social and moral obligations—especially sustaining those under one’s care—and the integrity to complete undertaken duties effectively and without failure.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused setting, Śrī Maheśvara articulates a broad definition of dharma, placing ritual observance alongside practical responsibility and emphasizing that righteous action includes dependable follow-through in one’s deeds.