Shloka 766
Atithi-prāpti and the Brāhmaṇa’s Deliberation on Triadic Dharma (अतिथिप्राप्तिः धर्मत्रयविचारश्च)
प्रवृत्ती वा निवृत्ती वा तत्फलं सो<श्चुते महत् । “वह क्षेत्रज्ञ मैं हूँ। जो कर्मपरायण मनुष्य हैं
pravṛttī vā nivṛttī vā tatphalaṃ so 'śnute mahat |
Vaiśampāyana said: Whether one follows the path of outward engagement (pravṛtti) or the path of withdrawal (nivṛtti), one surely attains the great fruit that corresponds to it. For beings are fashioned with particular dispositions, and as they commit themselves to action or renunciation in accordance with that nature, they become heirs to the weighty results of those choices—thus making the renunciant way difficult for those bound to action.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
That both engagement in action (pravṛtti) and renunciation (nivṛtti) yield powerful results, and a person inherits the fruit aligned with their nature and chosen mode of conduct; hence nivṛtti is difficult for those strongly action-oriented.
Vaiśampāyana continues a didactic exposition in Śānti Parva, summarizing how different life-orientations—worldly action versus withdrawal—lead to corresponding outcomes, framing an ethical psychology of disposition and consequence.