Shloka 54
Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances
“महाराज! जब उसके द्वारा ऐसा कर्म किया जा सकता है, तब वह और क्या नहीं कर सकता? स्वामीने पहले उसके बारेमें जैसा सुन रक््खा है, वह वैसा नहीं है ।।
vāṅmātreṇaiva dharmiṣṭhaḥ svabhāvena tu dāruṇaḥ | dharmacchadmā hy ayaṃ pāpo vṛthācāra-parigrahaḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“大王！若他竟能做出这等行径，还有什么是他做不出来的？他并非陛下先前所听闻的那般人物。仅凭言辞，他显得极其正直；然而其本性却粗暴残忍。此人乃以‘法’为伪装的罪人；他的一切行持与戒行皆属徒然——不过是外在的做作与炫示。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True dharma is measured by inner disposition and consistent conduct, not by eloquent speech or outward observance. A person may appear righteous through words, yet be cruel by nature; such ‘dharma’ is a mask, and discernment is required to judge character.
In the Shanti Parva instruction to the king, Bhishma warns Yudhiṣṭhira about a person whose reputation for righteousness is misleading. He exposes the contrast between public piety and private wickedness, advising the king to see through performative virtue.