Shloka 10
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 28: Dharmādharmalakṣaṇa in Āpad
Crisis-Discernment of Right and Wrong
मासार्धमासानथ नक्षत्रयोगा- नतन्द्रितश्रन्द्रमा श्चा भ्युपैति । अतन्द्रितो दहते जातवेदा: समिध्यमान: कर्म कुर्वन् प्रजाभ्य:
māsārdhamāsān atha nakṣatrayogān atandritaś candramā cābhyupaiti | atandrito dahate jātavedāḥ samidhyamānaḥ karma kurvan prajābhyaḥ ||
Wika ni Vāyu-deva: “Walang katamaran, natatamo ng Buwan ang mga pagsasanib na nagtatakda ng mga buwan, kalahating-buwan, at mga landas ng mga konstelasyon. Gayundin, si Jātavedas (Apoy), malaya sa katamaran, ay naglalagablab kapag sinisindihan at, sa pagtupad sa itinakdang gawain para sa kapakanan ng mga nilalang, isinasakatuparan ang gawa ng pagsunog. Kaya’t ang kaayusan ng sansinukob ay napangangalagaan sa walang humpay na pagtupad ng tungkulin.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the world’s order is sustained by tireless performance of one’s appointed function: just as the Moon keeps its regular course and Fire burns when kindled, so should a person—especially one responsible for others—abandon laziness and do their duty for the welfare of beings.
Vāyu-deva is instructing through natural exemplars. He points to the Moon’s steady movement and Agni’s active burning as models of ‘atandritā’ (unwearied diligence), reinforcing a moral argument that rightful action and responsibility must be carried out without sloth.