Shloka 48
एवं चतुर्णा वर्णानामाश्रमाण्ां प्रवृत्तिषु । एकमालम्बमानानां निर्णये कि निरामयम्,इस प्रकार चारों वर्णों और आश्रमोंके लोग सभी प्रवृत्तियोंमें एकमात्र सुखका ही आश्रय लेते हैं--उसीको अपना लक्ष्य बनाकर चलते हैं, अतः सिद्धान्तत: अक्षय सुख क्या है, यह बताइये
evaṁ caturṇāṁ varṇānām āśramāṇāṁ pravṛttiṣu | ekam ālambamānānāṁ nirṇaye kiṁ nirāmayam ||
وهكذا، في شتّى مساعي الطبقات الأربع ومراحل الحياة، لا يلجأ الناس إلا إلى أمرٍ واحد—السعادة—يجعلونها غايةً ويسيرون على هديها. فقل لي قولًا حاسمًا: ما هي تلك السعادة التي لا يعتريها ألم ولا تبلى؟
कपिल उवाच
Educational Q&A
All human roles and life-stages, despite their diverse duties, are ultimately driven by the pursuit of happiness. Kapila presses for a definitive account of the highest kind of happiness—one that is not mixed with suffering or decay—implying a shift from ordinary pleasure to enduring well-being grounded in spiritual insight.
In the Shanti Parva’s philosophical dialogue, Kapila is speaking and challenges the discussion to move beyond conventional aims within varṇa and āśrama duties. He asks for a conclusive definition of “nirāmaya” (unafflicted) and “akṣaya” (imperishable) happiness as the true goal behind all pursuits.