Shloka 6
जापक–इक्ष्वाकु–सत्यविवादः
The Jāpaka, Ikṣvāku, and the Dispute on Truth and Merit
भरद्वाजने पूछा--ब्रह्म! किसका धर्माचरण कैसा होता है अथवा धर्मका लक्षण क्या है? या धर्मके कितने भेद हैं? यह सब आप मुझे बतानेकी कृपा करें ।। भूगुरुवाच स्वधर्माचरणे युक्ता ये भवन्ति मनीषिण: । तेषां स्वर्गफलावाप्तियोडन्यथा स विमुहाते,भूगुजीने कहा--मुने! जो मनीषी पुरुष अपने वर्णाश्रमोचित धर्मके आचरणमें सावधानीके साथ लगे रहते हैं, उन्हें स्वर्गरूपी फलकी प्राप्ति होती है। जो इसके विपरीत अधर्मका आचरण करता है, वह मोहके वशीभूत होता है
bharadvāja uvāca—brahman! kasya dharmācaraṇaṁ kīdṛśaṁ bhavati? athavā dharmasya lakṣaṇaṁ kim? vā dharmasya kati bhedāḥ? etat sarvaṁ me vaktum arhasi. bhṛgur uvāca—svadharmācaraṇe yuktā ye bhavanti manīṣiṇaḥ, teṣāṁ svargaphalāvāptir bhavati; anyathā sa vimuhyati.
Bharadvāja asked: “O Brahman, what does the practice of dharma look like for a person? What is the defining mark of dharma, and how many kinds of dharma are there? Please explain all this to me.” Bhṛgu replied: “Those wise people who are diligently engaged in the practice of their own prescribed duty (svadharma), in accordance with their station and discipline of life, attain the fruit of heaven. But one who acts otherwise—turning to what is contrary to dharma—falls under delusion.”
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage teaches that steadfast observance of one’s svadharma—duty suited to one’s role and life-stage—leads to meritorious results (symbolized by heaven), whereas acting contrary to dharma results in moha (delusion) and ethical downfall.
In a didactic exchange within Śānti Parva, Bharadvāja asks for a clear account of dharma—its definition and varieties. Bhṛgu begins his reply by emphasizing practical dharma: disciplined adherence to prescribed duty brings auspicious outcomes, while deviation leads to confusion and moral error.