Shloka 81
The Marks of Merit and the Destinies of Beings
Divine vs Demonic Traits
ततस्तत्र स दोषज्ञः स्मित्वा वचनमब्रवीत् । यस्तु जीवति पापेन त्यक्त्वा धर्मं परं हितम्
tatastatra sa doṣajñaḥ smitvā vacanamabravīt | yastu jīvati pāpena tyaktvā dharmaṃ paraṃ hitam
Então, ali, o conhecedor das faltas sorriu e disse: «Mas aquele que vive no pecado, tendo abandonado o dharma, o bem supremo…»
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (a ‘doṣajñaḥ’—one discerning of faults—speaks)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: hasya
Type: city
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वचनमब्रवीत् = वचनम् + अब्रवीत् (म + अ → म); यस्तु = यः + तु.
FAQs
It contrasts living by pāpa (sinful conduct) with upholding dharma, described here as “paraṃ hitam” (the supreme good/welfare).
The excerpt only identifies the speaker as “doṣajñaḥ” (one who knows/discerns faults). The exact character name requires the surrounding verses of Adhyaya 76.
It frames dharma not merely as rule-following but as the highest beneficial path—implying that abandoning it for sin harms one’s true welfare.