Shloka 16
Sarasvatī–Tārkṣya Saṃvāda: Agnihotra-vidhi, Dāna-phala, and Mokṣa-prasaṅga (सरस्वती–तार्क्ष्यसंवादः)
धर्म: पर: पाण्डव राज्यलाभात् तस्यार्थमाहुस्तप एव राजन् । सत्यार्जवाभ्यां चरता स्वधर्म जितस्त्वयायं च परश्च॒ लोक:,“राजन! पाण्डुनन्दन! राज्यलाभकी अपेक्षा धर्म महान् है। धर्मकी वृद्धिके लिये तपको ही प्रधान साधन बताया गया है। आप सत्य और सरलता आदि सदगुणोंके साथ-साथ स्वधर्मका पालन करते हैं, अतः आपने इस लोक और परलोक दोनोंको जीत लिया है
dharmaḥ paraḥ pāṇḍava rājyālābhāt tasyārtham āhus tapa eva rājan | satyārjavābhyāṃ caratā svadharma jitas tvayāyaṃ ca paraś ca lokaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “O hari, o anak ni Pāṇḍu, ang dharma ay mas mataas pa kaysa sa pagkamit ng isang kaharian. Para sa paglago at ganap na katuparan ng dharma, ipinahahayag nilang ang tapas—ang mahigpit na pagdidisiplina at pag-aayuno—ang pangunahing paraan. Sapagkat namumuhay ka ayon sa sariling tungkulin, na may katotohanan at tuwid na loob, napagtagumpayan mo kapwa ang mundong ito at ang daigdig sa kabila.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is presented as superior to political gain; the primary means to strengthen dharma is tapas—disciplined self-restraint. A life grounded in truth (satya), straightforward integrity (ārjava), and faithful performance of one’s own duty (svadharma) yields success not only in worldly life but also in the hereafter.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a Pāṇḍava king (commonly understood as Yudhiṣṭhira) and praises his conduct. The speech reframes the pursuit of kingship: rather than treating the kingdom as the highest goal, it elevates dharma and commends the Pāṇḍava for embodying it through austerity, truthfulness, and uprightness—thereby ‘winning’ both worlds.