Today's Vedika insight
3 October 2026 · Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva 5.39.57 (also 13.114.8 in another recension)
न तत्परस्य संदध्यात्प्रतिकूलं यदात्मनः । संग्रहेणैष धर्मः स्यात्कामादन्यः प्रवर्तते ॥
na tat parasya saṃdadhyāt pratikūlaṃ yad ātmanaḥ | saṃgraheṇaiṣa dharmaḥ syāt kāmād anyaḥ pravartate ||
“One should not impose upon another what is adverse to oneself. In summary, this is dharma; conduct otherwise proceeds from selfish desire.”
Vedika literal rendering; numbering varies across Mahābhārata recensions.
“The verse compresses an ethical test into one reversal: would I accept the burden or injury I am preparing to place on someone else?”
Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva 5.39.57 (also 13.114.8 in another recension)
Vedika commentary
Role reversal does not solve every moral question, but it exposes the double standard that lets desire make exceptions for itself.
Vedika distinguishes the original Sanskrit, a literal rendering, and an interpretive paraphrase so that the words of the text are never confused with explanation.
Source
Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva 5.39.57 (also 13.114.8 in another recension)
Traditional commentary
Mahābhārata, Vidura-nīti tradition
Explanation
Vedika