Mahabharata 3.201.113 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 201, Shloka 113
Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)
विदितार्थस्तु वेदानां परिवेद प्रयोजनम् । उद्विजेत् स तु वेदेभ्यो दावाग्नेरिव मानव:
viditārthas tu vedānāṃ pariveda prayojanam | udvijet sa tu vedebhyo dāvāgner iva mānavaḥ ||
玉提希提罗说道：“当一个人真正通达吠陀之义，并彻底辨明其真实旨趣时，那位通晓吠陀者便会离开那些只用来规定祭仪行为的吠陀——正如人们会从狂烈的林火前退避。”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that once one grasps the true aim of the Vedas—inner realization and right understanding—one naturally outgrows mere ritual injunctions (karma-kāṇḍa). Clinging to ritual alone then feels dangerous and limiting, like staying near a forest-fire.
Yudhiṣṭhira is reflecting on the hierarchy of spiritual pursuits: the Vedas guide action and duty, but their deeper intent points beyond ritual to insight. He uses the vivid image of people retreating from a wildfire to describe turning away from purely action-oriented Vedic prescriptions after realizing their ultimate purpose.
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