Yama’s Journey to Brahmaloka
Ekadashi–Dvadashi Mahatmya in the Rukmangada Cycle
सुखैर्दुःखैस्तथा द्वंद्वैर्लाभालाभैर्जयाजयैः । सत्यानृतैश्च देवेशो वेष्टितो धर्मपावकः ॥ ४६ ॥
sukhairduḥkhaistathā dvaṃdvairlābhālābhairjayājayaiḥ | satyānṛtaiśca deveśo veṣṭito dharmapāvakaḥ || 46 ||
Chúa tể của chư thiên bị bao phủ bởi lạc và khổ, bởi các cặp đối đãi, bởi được và mất, bởi thắng và bại, bởi chân và ngụy; song ngọn lửa của Dharma—tính năng thanh tịnh—vẫn bị quấn trong những điều kiện ấy.
Narada (narrative voice within Uttara-Bhaga context; traditional dialogue frame with sages)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
It teaches that worldly experience is structured by dvandvas—pleasure/pain, gain/loss, victory/defeat, truth/falsehood—which can ‘cover’ one’s recognition of Dharma; spiritual progress requires seeing beyond these shifting conditions.
Bhakti matures into steadiness: devotion to the Lord is not dependent on success or failure. By remaining devoted through sukha and duḥkha, the devotee lets the ‘fire of Dharma’ purify the heart instead of being ruled by dualities.
The verse practically points to Viveka (discernment) central to Dharma-śāstra application: recognizing dvandvas as transient helps one choose dharmic action consistently, rather than acting from reactive emotion tied to gain/loss or victory/defeat.