Shloka 30
Draupadī’s Lament and Theodicy: Dharma, Dice, and Īśvara’s Governance (Āraṇyaka-parva 31)
फलदं चल्विह विज्ञाय धातारं श्रेयसि ध्रुवम् धर्म ते व्यचरन् कृष्णे तद्धि श्रेय: सनातनम्,कृष्णे! यहाँ धर्मका फल देनेवाले ईश्वर अवश्य हैं, यह बात जानकर ही उन ऋषि आदिकोंने धर्मका आचरण किया है। धर्म ही सनातन श्रेय है
phaladaṃ khalv iha vijñāya dhātāraṃ śreyasi dhruvam | dharmaṃ te vyacaran kṛṣṇe tad dhi śreyaḥ sanātanam ||
Wahai Kṛṣṇā, setelah mengetahui dengan pasti bahawa Sang Pencipta (Dhātā) di sini benar-benar pemberi yang teguh akan buah perbuatan—terutama pada jalan yang membawa kepada kebaikan tertinggi—maka para resi dan orang tua-tua mulia itu mengamalkan dharma. Kerana dharma sahajalah kesejahteraan yang kekal abadi.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is the eternal path of true welfare (śreyas). The sages practiced dharma because they were convinced that an ordaining divine principle (Dhātā/Īśvara) reliably dispenses the fruits of actions; therefore righteous conduct is never ultimately wasted.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Draupadī (called Kṛṣṇā), affirming that the tradition of sages rests on confidence in a moral order: God/Providence gives the results of deeds. He uses this to justify steadfast adherence to dharma even amid suffering and uncertainty.