The greatness of the Mahabharata lies not merely in its vastness but in the unity of its spirit — every role, whether lofty or humble, breathes forth a single truth in manifold forms, shaping the human heart with a depth that transcends time. When one descends into its depths, each character seems to hold a mirror before the soul, awakening within us a silent demand for self-correction, urging us gently upon the path of righteousness.
When the Brahmin sage Kaushika heard the discourse of the devoted housewife, he stood astonished and said, “Mother, you are no mere woman; you are a beacon to your kind. Your steadfast faith in duty and your dedication have thrown open wide the gates of knowledge to the world. I am illumined by your grace.” Bowing before her with folded hands, he continued, “My mind floats now in the calm sky of peace.
May this experience remain eternal. As you have guided me, I shall journey to Mithila.” With her blessings, he departed, his heart still overwhelmed by her humility and unshaken devotion — her service unswayed by desire for reward. Yet as he walked, repentance shadowed his mind, for he recognized the shallowness of his own learning and the fragility of his virtue. Through villages and hamlets, through towns alive with the hum of life, he wandered — gathering wisdom from each encounter and preserving every lesson like a jewel.
At last, he reached Mithila, the resplendent capital glowing with culture and refinement. When he inquired among the townsfolk about Dharmavyadha, they directed him to a busy marketplace. There stood the man — a butcher — cutting flesh and serving a crowd that thronged about his stall. The sight appalled the Brahmin, who withdrew and stood aside with quiet humility. But Dharmavyadha, through the inward power born of devotion and discipline, perceived the sage’s arrival.
Approaching him with warmth, he said, “O noble one, has the chaste housewife guided you to me, sending you upon this long journey? I perceived your coming by the stillness of my mind. Great joy fills me to receive a sage of your sanctity. Pray, come to my home.” Kaushika was struck by wonder — first at the divine insight of the housewife, and now at this humble butcher who seemed to speak her very spirit.
Accepting the invitation, he went to the man’s dwelling, where he was honored with all the courtesies due to a guest. The sage then spoke: “O virtuous soul, you know well the righteous path. Yet your livelihood, grounded in injury to living beings, troubles my conscience. Is it not opposed to virtue?” The saintly butcher replied, “O holy one, every being must walk by the dharma of his birth, which is not uniform for all.
The Brahmin’s dharma is austerity, Vedic learning, purity of body and mind, restraint of the senses, and pursuit of wisdom. The Kshatriya’s dharma is to protect the righteous and punish the wicked. The trader’s dharma is agriculture, commerce, and the orderly tending of wealth. The servant’s dharma is service — humble, flawless, and devoted. Likewise, the butcher’s dharma is to sell flesh — a calling handed down through our lineage. Duty, in balance, preserves harmony. I live by this trade not in cruelty but in necessity, as ordained by King Janaka, who decreed that every citizen must follow the vocation of his heritage, even his own son. Yet know this — I slay no creature, nor do I command another to kill. I buy only what hunters bring already dead, adding but a modest gain for my sustenance and my family’s welfare.
My profit is small, but my heart is clean. I honor Brahmins, elders, and guests with reverence. I speak truth, maintain purity within and without, treat my servants kindly, and offer charity with humility. I live in contentment, free of jealousy, unbound by desire, untouched by slander or gossip. I eat sparingly, fast in due season, am faithful to one wife, and rejoice neither in praise nor despair in blame. Though born low, I strive for nobility through righteousness.
These words are not of self-praise, for I hold self-glory as a silent thief that drains the soul’s virtue. You came to learn the subtle essence of dharma; listen then with full attention. True dharma rests in unity, in the harmony of all callings. The elders have taught that one’s duty must be performed with honesty, the heart filled with compassion. Difference of opinion is natural, but one who deems only his view correct errs in spirit. The wise preserve balance, dissolving passion through understanding.
Above all virtues, sacrifice stands supreme — the highest ornament of dharma. Through sacrifice, Rama became divine; through sacrifice, this land attained sanctity. When desires arise, let them be tempered through righteous effort, never turning from the path of devotion. Whether fortune brings joy or sorrow, triumph or defeat, the steadfast should remain unmoved. No anger must enter the heart; even those who wrong you must not be harmed, for sin consumes its own bearer.
The wicked may seem powerful, but their path is hollow. Let no doubt in God or tradition shake your faith. If sin be done unwittingly, realization itself becomes purification. But anger and grief are the worst enemies of man — unmastered, they rob him of honor and peace. Many acts may appear righteous yet conceal folly; the wise discern and avoid them, following instead the conduct of the truly good. When Kaushika asked what constitutes true etiquette,
Dharmavyadha replied, “O venerable one, etiquette is the distilled essence of life’s experiences — faith and trial, sorrow and joy, reason and resolve, belief and endurance. In its analysis, it is composed of truthfulness, charity, control of the senses, service to others, purity of heart, humility, and restraint from pride. It is to honor teacher and parent, to govern anger by will, to rejoice in contentment, to study the Vedas without arrogance, to shun atheistic company, to preserve one’s character unsullied, to speak little but speak truth sweetly, to protect those who seek refuge, and to cherish all living beings with kindness.”
Thus flowed the discourse of Dharmavyadha — pure and deep as a sacred river — revealing the hidden code of conduct, the unity of dharma, and the silent majesty of service. His words cast a tranquil spell over Kaushika, unveiling before him the vast tree of dharma — its roots in truth, its branches in compassion, and its fruit in peace.
