Shloka 15
सूक्ष्मभूत-भूतात्मविज्ञानम्
Knowing the subtle principle and the bhūtātman through yoga
नाभिनन्देत मरणं नाभिनन्देत जीवितम् । कालमेव प्रतीक्षेत निदेशं भूतको यथा,संन्न्यासी न तो जीवनका अभिनन्दन करे और न मृत्युका ही। जैसे सेवक स्वामीके आदेशकी प्रतीक्षा करता रहता है, उसी प्रकार उसे भी कालकी प्रतीक्षा करनी चाहिये
nābhinandet maraṇaṃ nābhinandet jīvitam | kālam eva pratīkṣeta nideśaṃ bhṛtako yathā ||
Vyāsa said: One should neither rejoice at death nor celebrate life. Rather, one should simply await the appointed time—just as a hired servant waits for the master’s instruction.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Maintain even-mindedness: do not cling to life or long for death. Await the proper time with readiness and discipline, like a servant awaiting the master’s order—an image for surrendering personal craving to dharma and the course of kāla.
In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Vyāsa delivers instruction on right conduct and inner peace. This verse frames the renunciant’s attitude: neither elation at continued life nor eagerness for death, but patient acceptance of time’s decree.