Shloka 46
Adhyāya 287 — Janaka’s Inquiry on Śreyas, Abhayadāna, and Asaṅga
Non-attachment
धर्ममर्थनिमित्तं च चरेयुर्यत्र मानवा: । न ताननुवसेज्जातु ते हि पापकृतो जना:,जहाँके मनुष्य धनके लिये धर्मका अनुष्ठान करते हों, वहाँ उनके पास कदापि न रहे; क्योंकि वे सब-के सब पापाचारी होते हैं
dharmam artha-nimittaṃ ca careyur yatra mānavāḥ | na tān anuvasej jātu te hi pāpa-kṛto janāḥ ||
جہاں لوگ محض دولت کے لیے دھرم پر عمل کرتے ہوں، وہاں کبھی سکونت نہ اختیار کرے؛ کیونکہ وہ سب کے سب گناہ کے کرنے والے ہیں۔
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma loses its moral force when performed merely for profit; one should avoid the company of those who instrumentalize righteousness for wealth, since such motivation tends toward sin and corruption.
Nārada offers a counsel about discernment in association: he identifies a social setting where people outwardly perform dharma but inwardly aim at wealth, and advises the listener not to live among such people.