Shloka 31
Gṛhastha-vṛtti and Niyama: Models of Householder Livelihood and Discipline (गृहस्थवृत्ति-नियमाः)
अधर्म धर्मकामो हि करोति हाविचक्षण: । धर्म वाधर्मसंकाशं शोचन्निव करोति सः
adharma-dharma-kāmo hi karoti hāvicakṣaṇaḥ | dharma vādharmasaṅkāśaṃ śocann iva karoti saḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vyāsa: Ang taong walang malinaw na pag-unawa, kahit nagnanais ng dharma, ay gumagawa ng adharma; at kung minsan, na wari’y nalulunod sa dalamhati, ginagawa niya ang bagay na mukhang dharma ngunit sa totoo’y kahawig ng adharma. Dahil kulang sa wastong paghatol, napagkakamalan niyang katuwiran ang kamalian; at kabaligtaran, maaari rin siyang mapadpad sa tama kahit masama ang layon. Ang ganitong magulong pagkilos na bunga ng kamangmangan ang nagbubuklod sa nilalang na may katawan sa paulit-ulit na kapanganakan at kamatayan.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Without discernment (viveka), a person can commit adharma while believing it to be dharma, or perform dharma even while intending adharma. This confusion, rooted in ignorance, produces karmic bondage and perpetuates saṃsāra (repeated birth and death).
In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Vyāsa is explaining how moral error often arises not only from deliberate wickedness but from misjudgment—mistaking the nature of an act. He highlights the ethical danger of acting with unclear understanding and the spiritual consequence of such ignorance-driven action.