Shloka 34
स एव सुभगो भूत्वा पुनर्भवति दुर्भग: । व्यापत्तिं कर्मणां दृष्टवा जुगुप्सन्ति जना: सदा,जो स्वर्गादिकी कामना करके धर्मकार्य करते हैं, वे ही स्वर्गादि फलोंको पाकर सौभाग्यवान् कहलाते हैं, फिर वे ही पुण्यक्षीण होनेके पश्चात् जब स्वर्गसे नीचे गिरते हैं, तब दुर्भाग्यसे दूषित माने जाते हैं, इस प्रकार कर्मोंका विनाश देखकर विज्ञ पुरुष सदा ही सकाम कर्मोकी निन्दा करते हैं
sa eva subhago bhūtvā punar bhavati durbhagaḥ | vyāpattiṁ karmaṇāṁ dṛṣṭvā jugupsanti janāḥ sadā ||
A mesma pessoa que se torna “afortunada” ao alcançar os frutos desejados da ação, mais tarde volta a tornar-se “infeliz”. Vendo como os resultados das ações perecem e desabam, os homens de discernimento recuam continuamente e censuram os ritos e feitos movidos pelo desejo de recompensa.
तुलाधार उवाच
Educational Q&A
Fruit-seeking religious action yields temporary ‘good fortune’ (such as heavenly enjoyment), but when merit is exhausted the same person falls and is judged ‘unfortunate’ again. Because the fruits are unstable and perish, the wise criticize desire-driven action and implicitly commend action free from craving for results.
Tulādhāra is instructing his interlocutor in Śānti Parva on the limitations of reward-oriented dharma. He points to the cycle of ascent through merit and descent after its exhaustion, using this to argue against performing dharma merely for promised rewards.