Shloka 22
कपिल–स्यूमरश्मि संवादः
Kapila and Syūmaraśmi on Renunciation, Householder Support, and Epistemic Authority
नद्यां चेह यथा काष्ठमुहामानं यदृच्छया । यदृच्छयैव काछ्लेन सन्धिं गच्छेत केनचित्
nadyāṃ ceha yathā kāṣṭham ūḍhamānaṃ yadṛcchayā | yadṛcchayaiva kāṣṭhena sandhiṃ gacchet kenacit ||
Just as, here, a piece of wood is carried along in a river by sheer chance, and by that same chance comes into contact and joins with another piece of wood, so too do meetings and associations in the world often occur without deliberate design. The wise therefore should not build pride, hatred, or attachment on mere happenstance, but act with steadiness and discernment in dharma.
तुलाधार उवाच
Educational Q&A
Tūlādhāra teaches that many encounters and connections arise by mere chance, like logs meeting in a river; therefore one should not base strong attachment, enmity, or ego on such accidental conjunctions, but remain grounded in dharma and clear judgment.
In Śānti Parva’s dialogue, Tūlādhāra speaks in a didactic tone, using a simple natural simile (logs drifting and meeting) to explain the contingent nature of worldly associations and to guide the listener toward steadiness and non-attachment.