Shloka 48

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

evaṁ caturṇāṁ varṇānām āśramāṇāṁ pravṛttiṣu | ekam ālambamānānāṁ nirṇaye kiṁ nirāmayam ||

Translation

So nehmen die Menschen in den verschiedenen Betätigungen der vier varṇa und der Lebensstufen nur zu einem Zufluchtsort ihre Zuflucht—zum Glück—machen es zum Ziel und schreiten danach voran. Darum sage mir endgültig: Was ist jenes unversehrte, unvergängliche Glück?

Word by Word

एवम्thus, in this manner

चतुर्णाम्of four

वर्णानाम्of the social classes (varṇas)

आश्रमाणाम्of the life-stages (āśramas)

प्रवृत्तिषुin activities/engagements

एकम्one, single

आलम्बमानानाम्of those resorting to / taking support of

निर्णयेin the determination/decision (as to what is right)

किम्what?

निरामयम्free from disease/sorrow; untroubled (well-being)

Speaker

कपिल उवाच

Characters & Entities

Kapila

varṇa (four social orders)

āśrama (stages of life)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

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.

What is happening in the narrative?

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.