Shloka 47
Śānti-parva 168: Śoka-nivṛtti-buddhi (The Cognition that Reduces Grief) and Piṅgalā’s Nairāśya
एतत् प्रधानं च न कामकारो यथा नियुक्तोडस्मि तथा करोमि । भूतानि सर्वाणि विधिरन्नियुद्धक्ते विधिर्बलीयानिति वित्त सर्वे
etat pradhānaṃ ca na kāmakāro yathā niyukto ’smi tathā karomi | bhūtāni sarvāṇi vidhir niyuṅkte vidhir balīyān iti vitta sarve ||
قال يودهيشثيرا: إنّ هذا التأمّل هو الوسيلة الأسمى إلى التحرّر، لا العملُ بدافع الهوى. كما عُيِّنتُ أعمل. إنّ المُقَدِّر يوجّه جميع الكائنات إلى مهامّها الخاصة؛ فاعلموا جميعًا أنّ القضاء—السنّة الإلهية—هو الأقوى.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that liberation-oriented living rests on thoughtful discernment and dutiful action, not on impulsive self-will; all beings are directed by vidhi (ordinance), which is portrayed as more powerful than personal preference.
In the Śānti Parva’s reflective discourse, Yudhiṣṭhira explains his stance on action: he performs the role assigned to him, emphasizing that a higher ordinance directs creatures into their respective duties, and urging listeners to recognize the strength of that ordinance.