Shloka 5
Vasiṣṭha on Saṃsāra, Guṇas, and Misattributed Agency
Mahābhārata 12.292
न धर्मार्थी नृशंसेन कर्मणा धनमर्जयेत् । शक्तित: सर्वकार्याणि कुर्यन्नद्धिमनुस्मरेत्
na dharmārthī nṛśaṃsena karmaṇā dhanam arjayet | śaktitaḥ sarvakāryāṇi kuryann addhim anusmaret ||
ผู้ใฝ่ธรรมไม่พึงแสวงหาทรัพย์ด้วยการกระทำอันโหดร้ายหรือไร้เมตตา แต่พึงปฏิบัติหน้าที่ทั้งปวงตามกำลังของตน และระลึกไว้เสมอถึงประโยชน์แท้—ความเกื้อกูลสูงสุด
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma-seeking persons must not pursue artha (wealth) through nṛśaṃsa (cruel, harmful) actions; instead they should perform duties within their capacity while remembering the truly beneficial, higher good.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on conduct, Parāśara states a moral rule about livelihood and action: wealth gained through cruelty undermines dharma, so one should act responsibly, proportionate to one’s strength, with the higher welfare in view.