Shloka 45
कृतयुगवर्णनम् तथा राजधर्मोपदेशः
Kṛtayuga Description and Instruction on Royal Dharma
लोभमोहपरीताश्च मिथ्याधर्मध्वजावृता: । भिक्षार्थ पृथिवीपाल चज्चूर्यन्ते द्विजैर्दिश:
lobhamohaparītāś ca mithyādharmadhvajāvṛtāḥ | bhikṣārthaṃ pṛthivīpāla ca cūryante dvijair diśaḥ ||
وَیشَمپایَن نے کہا—اے راجن! لالچ اور فریب میں گرفتار، جھوٹے دھرم کے جھنڈے میں لپٹے برہمن صرف بھیک ہی نہیں مانگیں گے؛ بھیک کے نام پر وہ ہر سمت کے لوگوں کو ستائیں گے اور دبا کر رکھیں گے۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns religious hypocrisy: when greed and delusion dominate, people may display the outward symbols of dharma while violating its essence, even harming society under a pious pretext. True dharma is measured by conduct and compassion, not by external appearance.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a king and describes a troubling social condition: brahmins, instead of embodying restraint and integrity, will be driven by greed and delusion, adopting the guise of righteousness and troubling people in all regions while seeking alms.