Shloka 24
अग्राह्य-ज्ञातिसंबन्धमण्डल-विवेचनम् / Managing Unreadable Kinship Networks: Vāsudeva–Nārada on Cohesion
सर्व एव गुरुं भारमनड्वान् वहते समे । दुर्गे प्रतीत: सुगवो भारं वहति दुर्वहम्,समतल भूमिपर सभी बैल भारी भार वहन कर लेते हैं; परंतु दुर्गण भूमिपर कठिनाईसे वहन करनेयोग्य गुरुतर भारको अच्छे बैल ही ढोते हैं
sarva eva guruṁ bhāram anaḍvān vahate same | durge pratītaḥ sugavo bhāraṁ vahati durvaham ||
Nārada berkata: Di tanah yang rata, mana-mana lembu pun mampu memikul beban yang berat. Namun di laluan yang sukar, hanya lembu yang telah terbukti dan terlatih baik sahaja mampu menanggung beban yang pada asalnya sukar dipikul.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
True capability and virtue are not measured in easy circumstances; they are revealed when conditions become difficult. The ‘good ox’ symbolizes the person of steadiness and competence who can uphold dharma and responsibility under pressure.
Nārada uses a practical rural metaphor—oxen carrying loads—to illustrate a moral point: many can perform when the path is smooth, but only the truly proven can sustain heavy duties amid hardship.