Shloka 35
Vidyā–Avidyā and the Twenty-Fifth Principle
Sāṃkhya–Yoga Clarification
अप्रयत्नागता: सेव्या गृहस्थैरविषया: सदा । प्रयत्नेनोपगम्यश्न स्वधर्म इति मे मतिः,इसलिये गृहस्थ पुरुषको सदा बिना प्रयत्न अपने-आप प्राप्त हुए विषयोंका ही सेवन करना चाहिये और प्रयत्न करके तो अपने धर्मका ही पालन करना चाहिये। यही मेरा मत है
aprayatnāgatāḥ sevyā gṛhasthair aviṣayāḥ sadā | prayatnenopagamyāśnan svadharma iti me matiḥ ||
Parāśara said: A householder should always partake only of those enjoyments that come of themselves, without deliberate striving. If effort is to be made, it should be directed to the performance of one’s own duty—this is my considered view.
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A householder should not chase pleasures through calculated effort; he may accept what comes naturally, but should reserve deliberate exertion for fulfilling svadharma—his rightful duties and obligations.
In the didactic discourse of the Śānti Parva, the sage Parāśara offers guidance on household ethics, distinguishing between passive acceptance of incidental enjoyments and active striving, which he says should be devoted to dharma rather than to sense-gratification.