Shloka 11
राजधर्माश्रयं केचित् केचिदात्मफलाश्रयम् | गुरुधर्माश्रयं केचित्केचिद् वाक्संयमाश्रयम्,कोई राजधर्म, कोई आत्मज्ञान, कोई गुरुशुश्रुषा और कोई मौनव्रतका ही आश्रय लिये बैठे हैं
rājadharmāśrayaṃ kecit kecid ātmaphalāśrayam | gurudharmāśrayaṃ kecit kecid vāksaṃyamāśrayam ||
O brâmane disse: “Alguns tomam refúgio no rājadharma, os deveres da realeza; outros, no fruto que provém do autoconhecimento e da realização interior. Alguns se apoiam na disciplina de servir ao mestre e honrar a lei do guru; outros assentam sua prática na contenção da fala. Assim, diferentes buscadores adotam diferentes apoios para viver retamente.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma can be pursued through different legitimate supports—public duty (rājadharma), inner realization (ātmaphala), disciplined reverence for the teacher (gurudharma), and ethical restraint in speech (vāksaṃyama). The verse highlights plural pathways oriented toward self-control and right conduct.
A brāhmaṇa speaker is describing how various people adopt different disciplines or ‘refuges’ in life—some focusing on governance and justice, others on inner spiritual attainment, others on guru-centered discipline, and others on silence and controlled speech—framing a broader Shanti Parva discussion on dharma and conduct.