Shloka 16
कर्मविद्या-भेदः
Karma–Vidyā Distinction: Paths of Bondage and Release
कालो गिरति विज्ञानं कालं॑ बलमिति श्रुति: । बल॑ कालो ग्रसति तु त॑ विद्वान् कुरुते वशे,सुननेमें आया है कि काल ज्ञान (समष्टि बुद्धि) को ग्रस लेता है, शक्ति उस कालको अपने अधीन कर लेती है; फिर महाकाल शक्तिको और परब्रह्मय महाकालको अपने अधीन कर लेता है
kālo girati vijñānaṃ kālaṃ bala iti śrutiḥ | balaṃ kālo grasati tu taṃ vidvān kurute vaśe ||
قال فياسا: إنّ الزمان يلتهم التمييزَ والمعرفة (vi-jñāna). وتُعلن السُّرُوتي أنّ القوّة (bala) تستطيع أن تُخضع الزمان. غير أنّ الزمان بدوره يبتلع حتى القوّة؛ لذلك يُخضع الحكيمُ تلك القدرةَ نفسها للضبط، ولا يرضى أن يُستَعبَد بها.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Time ultimately overcomes both knowledge and power; therefore one should not become arrogant about intellect or strength. The wise cultivate restraint and mastery over power, acting with humility and disciplined judgment in the face of time’s inevitability.
In the didactic discourse of the Śānti Parva, Vyāsa states a hierarchy of forces: time consumes discernment; tradition says strength can subdue time; yet time consumes strength as well. The conclusion urges the listener toward self-mastery—bringing power under control rather than being driven by it.