Shloka 41
अश्वशिरो-आख्यानम्
Aśvaśiras / Hayaśiras Narrative: Retrieval of the Vedas
मुक्तानां तु गतिर्तब्रह्यन् क्षेत्रज्ञ इति कल्पिता | स हि सर्वगुणश्वैव निर्गुणश्वैव कथ्यते
muktānāṃ tu gatir brahman kṣetrajña iti kalpitā | sa hi sarvaguṇaś caiva nirguṇaś caiva kathyate, brahma ||
قال نارادا: «يا براهمن، إن الغاية المقدّرة للمتحرّرين قد عُيّنت بأنها كْشِتْرَجْنْيا (Kṣetrajña)؛ عارف الحقل، أي الذات العليا. فهو يُوصَف بأنه جامعٌ لكل الفضائل، ويُقال في الوقت نفسه إنه متعالٍ عن جميع الصفات.»
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the final goal of liberation is realization of the Kṣetrajña (the Supreme Knower of the Field). The Supreme is described in a twofold way: as sarvaguṇa (the fullness of all auspicious excellences) and as nirguṇa (beyond all limiting qualities/guṇas). This reconciles devotional language about divine attributes with philosophical language about transcendence.
Within the Shānti Parva’s instruction on peace and liberation, Nārada is addressing a Brahmanical interlocutor and clarifying the metaphysical destination of the liberated. The discussion is doctrinal rather than event-driven, aiming to guide ethical and spiritual orientation toward the highest Self.