Shloka 30
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
माता पिता बान्धवानां वरिष्ठौ भार्या जरा बीजमात्र तु पुत्र: । भ्राता शत्रु: क्लिन्नपाणिवयस्य आत्मा होक: सुखदुःखस्य भोक्ता
mātā pitā bāndhavānāṁ variṣṭhau bhāryā jarā bījamātra tu putraḥ | bhrātā śatruḥ klinnapāṇivayasya ātmā hy ekaḥ sukhaduḥkhasya bhoktā ||
Wika ni Brahmadatta: “Sa mga kamag-anak, ang ina at ama ang pinakadakila, sapagkat likas ang kanilang pag-ibig. Ang asawa ay tila katawang-anyo ng katandaan, sapagkat inuubos niya ang sigla ng lalaki; ang anak ay binhi lamang ng sarili—bahagi ng sarili. Ang kapatid ay nagiging kaaway kapag kailangang hatiin ang yaman, at ang kaibigan ay kaibigan lamang habang ‘basa’ ang kanyang kamay—habang napaglilingkuran ang sariling pakinabang. Sa katotohanan, ang Sarili lamang ang sinasabing tumatanggap ng ligaya at dalamhati.”
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
Worldly relationships are often conditioned by biology, desire, and self-interest; therefore one should cultivate discernment and detachment. Ultimately, pleasure and pain are borne by one’s own Self, so responsibility for one’s experience and liberation cannot be outsourced to others.
In the Shanti Parva’s reflective discourse, Brahmadatta delivers a sober assessment of familial and social bonds—praising parents’ natural affection while warning that other ties (spouse, siblings, friends) can become sources of decline, rivalry, or transactional loyalty—culminating in the assertion that the Self alone truly ‘enjoys’ (experiences) happiness and sorrow.