Shloka 87
देवा देवर्षयश्नोचुस्तमेवंवादिनं गुरुम् | एकपादस्थिते धर्मे यत्र क्वचन गामिनि
devā devarṣayaś nocus tam evaṃvādinaṃ gurum | ekapādasthite dharme yatra kvacana gāmini
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Pagkaraan, kinausap ng mga diyos at ng mga banal na rishi ang kagalang-galang na guro na nagsasalita nang gayon: “Kapag ang Dharma ay nakatayo na lamang sa iisang paa—marupok at pagala-gala saanman—ano ang dapat gawin?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical crisis: when Dharma becomes unstable and no longer firmly established, even divine beings seek guidance. It highlights that in times of moral decline, discernment and right counsel are essential to restore or uphold righteousness.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that the gods and divine seers address a revered teacher who has been speaking on Dharma. They raise a pointed question about a condition where Dharma is reduced to ‘one foot’—a metaphor for weakened righteousness that wanders without firm support.