The Hunter Discourses on Dharma and Adharma
A brahmana, having witnessed the hunter's extraordinary conduct, asks him to speak on dharma. What follows is a systematic discourse on how the mind, when unguarded, leads to desire, anger, and the ruin of righteousness — and how wisdom alone can turn the intelligence toward virtue.
Markandeya said to Yudhishthira: O lord of men, listen to what happened when the brahmana asked the hunter about dharma, and the hunter replied.
The hunter said: O supreme among brahmanas, it is the mind that first operates in men and leads to perception. Because of this, they serve desire and anger. For that purpose, they undertake great endeavours. They form the habit of serving the desires of beauty and smell. Then comes attachment, and from this follows hatred. Avarice comes after that, followed by delusion.
When men are overcome by avarice and battered by attachment and hatred, dharma is not generated in the intelligence. Instead, there is pretence about following dharma. Dharma is practised in deceit. One finds pleasure in acquiring artha (prosperity) through deceit. O supreme among brahmanas, one becomes successful in obtaining riches through deceit. The mind finds pleasure in this, and evil becomes attractive.
Well-wishers and learned ones urge for restraint. But one is ready with replies from the shrutis (sacred texts) and speaks of what is sanctioned by them. However, because of attachment, three sins of adharma are committed. There is sin in thought, speech, and deed. Addicted to adharma, all good qualities are destroyed. Only those who are similar in conduct remain friends with such an evil-acting one. As a consequence, unhappiness is reaped in this world and there is destruction in the next.
All evil-souled ones are like this. Now hear about the gains from dharma. Through one's wisdom, one can foresee the sins. One is skilful in differentiating happiness from unhappiness and consorts with righteous ones. By practising virtuous deeds, one's intelligence turns to dharma.
The brahmana said: You have truthfully described dharma. There is no one else who can speak about it in this way. It is my view that you are an extremely great rishi (seer) and your power is divine.
The hunter replied: The immensely fortunate brahmanas are always rendered offerings first, together with the ancestors. In this world, with all one's soul, a learned one does that which is pleasing to them. O supreme among brahmanas, I will tell you what brings pleasure to them. After bowing in obeisance to brahmanas, I will tell you about the knowledge of brahmanas. Listen to me.
O brahmana, this entire universe, everything in this universe, and everything that cannot be vanquished — the great elements — have the brahman (the ultimate reality) in the soul. There is nothing beyond that. The great elements are the sky, the wind, the fire, the water, and the earth. Sound, touch, shape, taste, and smell are their properties. These properties have all the sub-properties, related to one another. In due order, all the properties have a hierarchy consisting of the three qualities — sattva (purity), rajas (passion), and tamas (darkness).
It is said that the sixth property is consciousness, also called the mind. The seventh is intelligence, and pride follows that. There are five senses. There is sattva, rajas, and tamas. These are the seventeen that constitute what is not manifest. The manifest and the unmanifest are concealed well within the organs of sense. Including the manifest and the unmanifest, there are twenty-four traits. I have told you everything. What else do you wish to hear? Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 498