Shloka 62
Sārasvata–Dadhīca Upākhyāna at Sarasvatī Tīrtha
Balarāma’s Pilgrimage Context
मोक्षे गार्हस्थ्यधर्मे वा कि नु श्रेयस्करं भवेत् | तब मुनिश्रेष्ठ देवल पुनः अपनी बुद्धिसे विचार करने लगे, मोक्ष और गार्हस्थ्यधर्म इनमेंसे कौन-सा मेरे लिये श्रेयस्कर होगा ।।
mokṣe gārhasthyadharme vā ki nu śreyaskaraṃ bhavet | iti niścitya manasā devalo rājasattamaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Was wäre denn wahrhaft heilsamer — mokṣa (Befreiung) oder die dharma des Hausstandes?“ Nachdem er dies in seinem Geist entschieden hatte, begann der Weise Devala erneut zu sinnen und abzuwägen, welcher Weg wirklich zum höchsten Gut führt.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the classical Indian ethical inquiry into śreyas (the highest good): whether one should prioritize mokṣa through renunciation or fulfill gārhasthya-dharma as a disciplined, duty-centered path. It presents moral reasoning as essential—one must reflect and decide according to what truly leads to lasting welfare, not merely immediate preference.
Vaiśampāyana reports that the sage Devala is internally deliberating. He reconsiders, with focused mind, which course is superior for him—pursuit of liberation or commitment to the householder’s obligations—setting up a discussion on life-choices and dharma.