Shloka 9
Vasiṣṭha–Karāla-Janaka Saṃvāda: Aśuddha-Sevana, Guṇa-Dr̥ṣṭi, and Sāṃkhya–Yoga Ekārthatā
Mahābhārata 12.293
(धर्मेण सहितं यत् तु भवेदल्पफलोदयम् । तत् कार्यमविशड्केन कर्मात्यन्तं सुखावहम् ।।) यो हृत्वा गोसहस््राणि नृपो दद्यादरक्षिता | स शब्दमात्रफलभागू राजा भवति तस्कर:,जो कार्य धर्मके अनुकूल हो, वह अल्प लाभदायक होनेपर भी नि:शंक होकर कर लेने योग्य है; क्योंकि वह अन्तमें अत्यन्त सुख देनेवाला होता है। जो राजा दूसरोंकी हजारों गौएँ छीनकर दान करता है और प्रजाकी रक्षा नहीं करता, वह नाममात्रका ही दानी और राजा है। वास्तवमें तो वह चोर और डाकू है
dharmeṇa sahitaṃ yat tu bhaved alpaphalodayam | tat kāryam aviśaṅkena karmātyantaṃ sukhāvaham || yo hṛtvā gosahasrāṇi nṛpo dadyād arakṣitāḥ | sa śabdamātraphalabhāgū rājā bhavati taskaraḥ ||
धर्मेण सहितं यत् तु भवेदल्पफलोदयम् । तत् कार्यमविशङ्केन कर्मात्यन्तं सुखावहम् ॥ यो हृत्वा गोसहस्राणि नृपो दद्यादरक्षिताः । स शब्दमात्रफलभागी राजा भवति तस्करः ॥
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do dharma-aligned actions even when they seem to yield little immediate benefit, because their long-term result is true welfare. Also, charity is invalid if it is funded by theft and paired with neglect of a ruler’s primary duty—protection; such a ruler is a thief, not a benefactor.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on conduct and kingship, Parāśara contrasts genuine dharmic action with performative generosity. He condemns a king who confiscates others’ cattle to donate them while failing to safeguard the people, declaring that such ‘kingship’ and ‘charity’ are only in name.