Shloka 10
Brāhmaṇa-Dharma, Āśrama Eligibility, and the Primacy of Rāja-Dharma (Śānti Parva 63)
कालसंचोदितो लोक: कालपययिनिक्षित: । उत्तमाधममध्यानि कर्माणि कुरुतेडवश:,कालके उलट-फेरसे प्रभावित तथा स्वभावसे प्रेरित हुआ मनुष्य विवश-सा होकर उत्तम, मध्यम और अधम कर्म करता है
kāla-saṃcodito lokaḥ kāla-paryāya-nikṣitaḥ | uttamādhama-madhyāni karmāṇi kurute ’vaśaḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira nói: “Bị Thời gian thúc đẩy, và bị ném vào dòng biến dịch của Thời gian, con người hành động như kẻ bị cưỡng bách—làm những việc cao thượng, trung bình, thậm chí hèn kém.”
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Human action is strongly conditioned by Kāla (Time)—the shifting sequence of circumstances—so people may end up doing noble, average, or base deeds as if compelled. The verse invites reflection on moral responsibility under pressure and the need for discernment even within constraint.
In Śānti Parva’s reflective dialogue, Yudhiṣṭhira voices a concern about the power of Time over human conduct, suggesting that changing conditions drive people into different grades of action. This sets up discussion on dharma, agency, and how to judge actions amid circumstance.