Shloka 41

Vānaprastha-vṛtti and the Transition toward the Fourth Āśrama (वानप्रस्थवृत्तिः चतुर्थाश्रमोपक्रमश्च)

Devanagari script

इत्येषा भावजा बुद्धि: कथिता ते न संशय: । एवं भवति निर्द॑न्द्वो ब्रह्माणं चाधिगच्छति

Transliteration

ity eṣā bhāvajā buddhiḥ kathitā te na saṁśayaḥ | evaṁ bhavati nirdvandvo brahmāṇaṁ cādhigacchati |

Translation

Vyāsa said: “Thus I have explained to you—without any doubt—the insight (buddhi) that is born of inner purification and right disposition. One who practices in the manner described and becomes free from the pairs of opposites (such as pleasure and pain, gain and loss) truly attains Brahman; of this there is no uncertainty.”

Word by Word

• {'iti': 'thus

• in this manner (concluding particle)', 'eṣā': 'this (feminine demonstrative, referring to the teaching/insight)', 'bhāvajā': 'born of bhāva

• arising from inner disposition, purified feeling/intent', 'buddhiḥ': 'intelligence

• spiritual understanding', 'kathitā': 'told

• taught', 'te': 'to you', 'na saṁśayaḥ': 'no doubt

• without uncertainty', 'evaṁ': 'thus

• in this way (as described)', 'bhavati': 'becomes

• comes to be', 'nirdvandvaḥ': 'free from द्वन्द्व (pairs of opposites)

• beyond dualities', 'brahmāṇam': 'Brahman (the Absolute reality) (accusative singular)', 'ca': 'and', 'adhigacchati': 'attains

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• Brahman

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Vyāsa affirms that true spiritual discernment arises from purified inner disposition (bhāva-śuddhi). By sustained practice one becomes nirdvandva—unshaken by opposites like pleasure/pain—and such equanimity culminates in realization of Brahman.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the didactic setting of Śānti Parva, Vyāsa concludes a section of instruction by summarizing the teaching on the ‘buddhi born of inner purification’ and assures the listener that freedom from dualities leads to Brahman-realization.