Shloka 25
धर्मसूक्ष्मे त्यागप्रधान्यविचारः
Subtle Dharma and the Primacy of Renunciation
पार्थ यान्न विजानीम: कस्तान् ज्ञातुमिहाहति । एवं प्राज्ञा: श्रुताश्नापि महान्तः शास्त्रवित्तमा:
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | pārtha yān na vijānīmaḥ kas tān jñātum ihārhati | evaṃ prājñāḥ śrutāś cāpi mahāntaḥ śāstravittamāḥ ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “O Pārtha, yaong kahit kami ay hindi tunay na nakikilala—sino rito ang karapat-dapat na makaunawa sa kanila? Sa gayon, maraming marurunong at dakilang dalubhasa sa mga śāstra ang nababanggit na minsang nabuhay, subalit mahirap matukoy ang tunay nilang katayuan.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes epistemic humility: if even capable and well-placed people cannot fully recognize true greatness, ordinary judgment is even less reliable. Reputation and hearsay about learned authorities exist, but discerning genuine wisdom requires caution and modesty.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Arjuna (Pārtha) and reflects on the difficulty of identifying truly great sages or scriptural masters. He notes that many are famed as wise and learned, yet their real worth is hard to ascertain.