Shloka 16
Draupadī’s Lament and Theodicy: Dharma, Dice, and Īśvara’s Governance (Āraṇyaka-parva 31)
उन्मत्तान् मन्यते बाल: सर्वानागतनिश्चयान् | धर्माभिशड्को नान्यस्मात् प्रमाणमधिगच्छति,धर्मके विषयमें संशय रखनेवाला बालबुद्धि मानव जिन्हें धर्मके तत्त्वका निश्चय हो गया है, उन समस्त ज्ञानीजनोंको उन्मत्त समझता है; अतः वह बालबुद्धि दूसरे किसीसे कोई शास्त्र-प्रमाण नहीं ग्रहण करता
unmattān manyate bālaḥ sarvān āgata-niścayān | dharmābhiśaṅko nānyasmāt pramāṇam adhigacchati ||
Aquele de entendimento infantil, que duvida do dharma, toma por loucos todos os sábios que chegaram a uma convicção firme de sua verdade. Por isso, com sua compreensão imatura, não aceita de ninguém prova ou testemunho autorizado acerca do dharma.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Moral skepticism combined with immaturity leads a person to dismiss the wise as irrational and to reject valid sources of knowledge (pramāṇa) about dharma; humility and receptivity to authority and reason are necessary for ethical understanding.
Yudhiṣṭhira is articulating a reflection on how a doubter of dharma behaves: he misjudges those who are settled in dharma and refuses to accept guidance or authoritative testimony, highlighting a barrier to learning and right conduct.