Shloka 77
Adhyāya 208: Aṅgirasī-kanyāḥ
Enumeration of Aṅgiras’ daughters and attribute-names
आरम्भोन्याययुक्तो य: स हि धर्म इति स्मृत: । अनाचारस्त्वधर्मेति एतच्छिष्टानुशासनम्,“जो आरम्भ न्याययुक्त हो, वही धर्म कहा गया है। इसके विपरीत जो अनाचार है, वह अधर्म है'--ऐसा शिष्ट पुरुषोंका कथन है
ārambho nyāya-yukto yaḥ sa hi dharma iti smṛtaḥ | anācāras tv adharma iti etac chiṣṭānuśāsanam ||
Disse o caçador: “Aquele empreendimento cujo início já está alinhado com a justiça é lembrado como dharma. Mas a conduta que se afasta da prática correta é adharma — esta é a instrução transmitida pelos cultos e disciplinados.”
व्याध उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is identified not merely by outward results but by the justice and propriety present from the very start of an action; actions rooted in nyāya are dharma, while deviation into anācāra is adharma, as affirmed by the exemplary tradition (śiṣṭānuśāsana).
In the Vana Parva’s dialogue, the hunter (vyādha) instructs the listener on ethical discernment, defining dharma through the criterion of a just and proper beginning and contrasting it with adharma as improper conduct, citing the authority of cultured elders.