Shloka 30
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
माता पिता बान्धवानां वरिष्ठौ भार्या जरा बीजमात्र तु पुत्र: । भ्राता शत्रु: क्लिन्नपाणिवयस्य आत्मा होक: सुखदुःखस्य भोक्ता
mātā pitā bāndhavānāṁ variṣṭhau bhāryā jarā bījamātra tu putraḥ | bhrātā śatruḥ klinnapāṇivayasya ātmā hy ekaḥ sukhaduḥkhasya bhoktā ||
Brahmadatta berkata: “Dalam kalangan sanak saudara, ibu dan bapa adalah yang utama, kerana kasih mereka bersifat semula jadi. Isteri bagaikan jelmaan usia tua, kerana dia menghabiskan tenaga seorang lelaki; anak hanyalah benih sendiri—bahagian daripada diri. Saudara menjadi musuh apabila harta perlu dibahagi, dan sahabat kekal sahabat hanya selagi tangannya ‘basah’—selagi kepentingannya terlayani. Sesungguhnya, hanya Diri (Atman) sahaja yang dikatakan mengalami suka dan duka.”
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
Worldly relationships are often conditioned by biology, desire, and self-interest; therefore one should cultivate discernment and detachment. Ultimately, pleasure and pain are borne by one’s own Self, so responsibility for one’s experience and liberation cannot be outsourced to others.
In the Shanti Parva’s reflective discourse, Brahmadatta delivers a sober assessment of familial and social bonds—praising parents’ natural affection while warning that other ties (spouse, siblings, friends) can become sources of decline, rivalry, or transactional loyalty—culminating in the assertion that the Self alone truly ‘enjoys’ (experiences) happiness and sorrow.