Shloka 4
पञ्चवर्णोत्पत्तिः — The Origin of the Five-Colored Fiery Being and Ritual-Disruptor Lineages
यद् भूतहितमत्यन्तं तत् सत्यमिति धारणा । विपर्ययकृतो<धर्म: पश्य धर्मस्य सूक्ष्मताम्,जिससे परिणाममें प्राणियोंका अत्यन्त हित होता हो, वह वास्तवमें सत्य है। इसके विपरीत जिससे किसीका अहित होता हो या दूसरोंके प्राण जाते हों, वह देखनेमें सत्य होनेपर भी वास्तवमें असत्य एवं अधर्म है-। इस प्रकार विचार करके देखिये, धर्मकी गति कितनी सूक्ष्म है
yad bhūtahitam atyantaṁ tat satyam iti dhāraṇā | viparyayakṛto 'dharmaḥ paśya dharmasya sūkṣmatām |
“凡最能利益众生者，当持之为‘真’。若反其道而行——致害于人，甚至夺其性命——则纵使在事实层面看似真实，实则亦成虚妄与非法（adharma）。由此思之，便知法之行径何其幽微。”
व्याध उवाच
Educational Q&A
Truth is not merely factual speech; it is that which promotes the highest welfare of beings. If a statement or act, though ‘true’ in appearance, results in harm or loss of life, it becomes ethically untrue and adharma. Dharma requires subtle discernment rather than rigid literalism.
The Vyādha (hunter) instructs his interlocutor on the nuanced nature of dharma, redefining ‘satya’ through the lens of universal welfare (bhūta-hita) and warning that actions contrary to welfare—even if outwardly aligned with truth—can constitute adharma.