Shloka 34
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 28: Dharmādharmalakṣaṇa in Āpad
Crisis-Discernment of Right and Wrong
सो<यं लोभान्मन्यते धर्ममेतं यमिच्छति क्रोधवशानुगामी । भाग: पुनः पाण्डवानां निविष्ट- स्तं न: कस्मादाददीरन् परे वै
so 'yaṁ lobhān manyate dharmam etaṁ yam icchati krodhavaśānugāmī | bhāgaḥ punaḥ pāṇḍavānāṁ niviṣṭas taṁ naḥ kasmād ādadīran pare vai ||
Dahil sa kasakiman, inaakala niyang ito ang ‘dharma’—ang landas na nais niya—ngunit sa katotohanan ay ginagabayan siya ng kapangyarihan ng poot. Subalit ang bahaging iyon ay sa mga Pāṇḍava; nakalagak lamang ito sa mga Kaurava na parang ipinagkatiwalang deposito. Kaya, Sanjaya, paano magagawang agawin ng mga kaaway nating Kaurava ang bahaging iyon mula sa atin?
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse exposes moral self-deception: greed and anger can masquerade as ‘dharma’ in one’s own mind. True dharma here is tied to rightful ownership and justice—what belongs to the Pāṇḍavas cannot be ethically rebranded as a legitimate seizure by hostile rivals.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations and arguments, Vāyu condemns the opposing side’s claim to the Pāṇḍavas’ share of the kingdom. He asserts that the Pāṇḍavas’ portion is merely held among the Kauravas like a deposit, and challenges how enemies could rightfully take it away.