Shloka 35
Skanda-janma: Śivā/Svāhā, Agni, and the Manifestation of Guha
Mahābhārata 3.214
आकिज्चन्यं सुसंतोषो निराशित्वमचापलम् | एतदेव पर ज्ञानं सदात्मज्ञानमुत्तमम्,कुछ भी संग्रह न रखना, सभी दशाओंमें अत्यन्त संतुष्ट रहना तथा कामना और लोलुपताको त्याग देना--यही परम ज्ञान है और यही सत्यस्वरूप उत्तम आत्मज्ञान है
ākiñcanyaṁ susantoṣo nirāśitvam acāpalam | etad eva paraṁ jñānaṁ sadātmajñānam uttamam ||
قال الصيّاد: «ألا يملك المرء شيئًا، وأن يظلّ راضيًا رضا عميقًا في كل حال، وأن يهجر الشهوة والطمع القَلِق—فهذا وحده هو العلم الأعلى. وهو معرفة الذات العظمى الموافقة للحقّ».
व्याध उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines ‘highest knowledge’ as an inner discipline: non-accumulation (ākiñcanya), unwavering contentment (susantoṣa), freedom from expectation (nirāśitva), and steadiness without restless wavering (acāpalam). Together these purify the mind and make true self-knowledge (sat-ātma-jñāna) possible.
In the Vana Parva’s dharma-instruction context, the hunter (vyādha) speaks as a moral teacher, presenting a practical path of inner renunciation and mental steadiness, emphasizing that genuine wisdom is measured by conduct and detachment rather than status or outward appearance.