Shloka 15
Daṇḍa, Ahiṃsā, and Proportional Kingship: The Dyumatsena–Satyavān Dialogue (दण्ड-अहिंसा-विवेकः)
कामादन्येच्छया चान्ये कारणैरपरैस्तथा । असन्तो<पि वृथाचारं भजन्ते बहवो5परे
kāmād anyecchayā cānye kāraṇair aparais tathā | asanto 'pi vṛthācāraṃ bhajante bahavo 'pare ||
କେହି କାମନାରୁ ଧର୍ମାଚରଣ କରନ୍ତି, କେହି ଅନ୍ୟର ଇଚ୍ଛା ପୂରଣ ପାଇଁ, ଆଉ କେହି ନାନା ଅନ୍ୟ କାରଣରୁ। ଯେମାନେ ସତ୍ୟରେ ସାଧୁ ନୁହନ୍ତି, ସେମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅନେକେ ନିରର୍ଥକ ଓ ଦେଖାଦେଖି ଆଚରଣ ଧରି ଧର୍ମର କେବଳ ବାହ୍ୟ ଆକାରକୁ ପ୍ରଚାର କରନ୍ତି।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is often pursued for mixed motives—desire, social pressure, or other causes—and therefore outward observance alone is unreliable; true righteousness depends on inner virtue and sincere intent, not mere display.
In the Śānti Parva’s reflective dialogue, Yudhiṣṭhira raises a moral concern: he observes that many people perform ‘dharma’ for self-serving or external reasons, and that even unvirtuous persons can imitate religious conduct, creating confusion about what genuine dharma looks like.