Shloka 6
Daṇḍa, Ahiṃsā, and Proportional Kingship: The Dyumatsena–Satyavān Dialogue (दण्ड-अहिंसा-विवेकः)
आपके कथनानुसार सत्पुरुषोंका आचरण धर्म माना गया है और जिनमें धर्माचरण लक्षित होता है
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | āpake kathanānusāra satpuruṣāṇāṃ ācaraṇaṃ dharmaḥ manyate, yeṣu ca dharmācaraṇaṃ lakṣyate te eva satpuruṣāḥ | evaṃ sati anyonyāśraya-doṣa-prasaṅgāt sādhya-asādhya-vivekaḥ kathaṃ syāt? evaṃ sati sadācāro dharmasya lakṣaṇaṃ na bhavitum arhati | dṛśyate hi dharma-rūpeṇā-dharmaḥ prākṛtaś caran | dharmaṃ cā-dharma-rūpeṇa kaścid aprākṛtaś caran ||
尤提士提罗说道：“依你所言，善人之行即被视为法（Dharma），而凡显见奉行法者便称为善人。可若如此，便落入相互依赖的循环：又如何分辨何者确当追求、何者不当追求？在这种情形下，‘善行’本身就不能单独作为法的定义标志。因为在此世间确实可见：许多凡夫行不法（Adharma）却披着法的外衣；也有一些端肃精炼、持戒自律之人，所行虽似不法，实则奉行正法。因此，仅凭外在行为，不能作为裁断法与不法的唯一依据。”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma cannot be defined solely by ‘what good people do,’ because that definition becomes circular and because appearances can mislead: Adharma may masquerade as Dharma, and true Dharma may look like Adharma. One must apply deeper discernment beyond external custom.
In the Śānti Parva’s ethical discussions, Yudhiṣṭhira challenges a proposed criterion for Dharma—identifying it with the conduct of the virtuous—by pointing out the logical flaw of circular definition and the practical problem that actions can be deceptive in appearance.