Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके ३ ६ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ३३३ “लोक हैं) #<०3८६>- हज अल _ीि<स एकादर्शाधिकशततमोड< ध्याय: मनुष्यके स्वभावकी पहचान बतानेवाली बाघ और सियारकी कथा युधिछिर उवाच असौम्या: सौम्यरूपेण सौम्याश्षासौम्यदर्शना: । ईदृशान् पुरुषांस्तात कथं विद्यामहे वयम्
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |
asauṁmyāḥ saumyarūpeṇa saumyaś cāsauṁmyadarśanāḥ |
īdṛśān puruṣāṁs tāta kathaṁ vidyāmahe vayam ||
Юдхиштхира сказал: «Почтенный, многие, будучи по природе суровы, внешне кажутся мягкими, а некоторые, поистине мягкие, в обращении выглядят суровыми. Как же нам верно распознавать таких людей?»
युधिछिर उवाच
Outer appearance can conceal inner disposition; ethical living requires discernment (viveka) to judge character by conduct and consistent traits rather than by a pleasant or harsh exterior.
In Śānti Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira raises a practical moral question: people may present themselves as gentle while being cruel, or seem stern while being kind. He asks how one can correctly identify such persons—setting up an instructive tale on recognizing true nature.