Shloka 28
Draupadī’s Lament and Theodicy: Dharma, Dice, and Īśvara’s Governance (Āraṇyaka-parva 31)
नाचरिष्यन् परे धर्म परे परतरे च ये । विप्रलम्भो5यमत्यन्तं यदि स्युरफला: क्रिया:,यदि तप, ब्रह्मचर्य, यज्ञ, स्वाध्याय, दान और सरलता आदि धर्म निष्फल होते तो पहले जो श्रेष्ठ और श्रेष्ठतर पुरुष हुए हैं वे धर्मका आचरण नहीं करते। यदि धार्मिक क्रियाओंका कुछ फल नहीं होता, वे सब निरी ठगविद्या होतीं तो ऋषि, देवता, गन्धर्व, असुर तथा राक्षस प्रभावशाली होते हुए भी किसलिये आदरपूर्वक धर्मका आचरण करते
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | nācariṣyan pare dharme pare paratare ca ye | vipralambho 'yam atyantaṁ yadi syur aphalāḥ kriyāḥ ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Kung ang pinakamataas, mas mataas, at pinakadakila sa lahat na anyo ng dharma ay tunay na walang bisa, hindi sana ito isinagawa ng mga dakilang tao noong unang panahon. Kung ang mga disiplina ng pananampalataya ay lubos na walang bunga—pawang panlilinlang lamang—bakit pa igagalang at susundin ng makapangyarihang mga ṛṣi, mga diyos, mga gandharva, mga asura, at mga rākṣasa ang dharma? Ang katotohanang maging ang mga makapangyarihan ay nagtataguyod nito ay patunay na hindi hungkag ang dharma, at ang mabuting gawa ay hindi walang kapalit.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Yudhiṣṭhira argues that dharma must have real value and consequence: if righteous disciplines were truly fruitless, the wisest and most powerful beings across worlds would not continue to honor and practice them. The widespread, reverent adherence to dharma is presented as evidence of its efficacy.
In the Vana Parva discussion on conduct and suffering, Yudhiṣṭhira voices a reasoned defense of dharma against the doubt that religious and ethical actions might be pointless. He appeals to the example of ancient great men and even non-human powerful classes of beings who still uphold dharma.