Shloka 40
Śānti-parva 168: Śoka-nivṛtti-buddhi (The Cognition that Reduces Grief) and Piṅgalā’s Nairāśya
धर्मार्थकामा: सममेव सेव्या यो होकभक्त: स नरो जघन्य: । तयोस्तु दाक्ष्यं प्रवदन्ति मध्य॑ स उत्तमो यो5भिरतस्त्रिवर्गे
dharmārthakāmāḥ samam eva sevyā yo hy ekabhaktaḥ sa naro jaghanyaḥ | tayos tu dākṣyaṁ pravadanti madhyaḥ sa uttamo yo 'bhiratas trivarge ||
«في رأيي ينبغي أن تُتَّبع الدَّرما، والأرثا (المنفعة والرخاء)، والكاما (الرغبة المشروعة) معًا على وجه التوازن. فمن اقتصر على واحدٍ منها عُدَّ أدنى الناس؛ ومن أحسن السعي في اثنين قيل إنه متوسط؛ أما من انصرف إلى الأهداف الثلاثة جميعًا على السواء فهو الأفضل.»
भीमयेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Human excellence lies in a balanced pursuit of the three aims—dharma (right conduct), artha (material well-being), and kāma (legitimate enjoyment). Exclusive fixation on only one aim is criticized as inferior; competence in two is middling; equal engagement with all three is praised as best.
In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Bhīma articulates a practical ethical standard for living after the war: rather than extreme renunciation or single-goal obsession, one should integrate duty, prosperity, and desire in proper proportion.