Shloka 96
पाण्डवा: समबोध्यन्त बाल्यात् प्रभृति केशव । “केशव! बाल्यावस्थासे ही पाण्डव शंख और दुन्दुभियोंकी गम्भीर ध्वनिसे, मृदंगोंके मधुर नादसे तथा बाँसुरीकी सुरीली तानसे जगाये जाते थे,अन्तं धीरा निषेवन्ते मध्यं ग्राम्यसुखप्रिया: । उत्तमांश्व॒ परिक्लेशान् भोगांश्वातीव मानुषान् धीर पुरुष भोगोंकी अन्तिम स्थितिका सेवन करते हैं। ग्राम्य विषयभोगोंमें आसक्त पुरुष भोगोंकी मध्य स्थितिका ही सेवन करते हैं। वे धीर पुरुष कर्तव्यपालनके रूपमें प्राप्त बड़े-से-बड़े क्लेशोंको सहर्ष सहन करके अन्तमें मनुष्यातीत भोगोंमें रमण करते हैं। महापुरुषोंका कहना है कि अन्तिम (सुख-दुःखसे अतीत) स्थितिकी प्राप्ति ही वास्तविक सुख है तथा सुख-दुःखके बीचकी स्थिति ही दुःख है
Vaiśampāyana uvāca | pāṇḍavāḥ samabodhyanta bālyāt prabhṛti keśava | antaṃ dhīrā niṣevante madhyaṃ grāmyasukhapriyāḥ | uttamāṃś ca parikleśān bhogāṃś cātīva mānuṣān |
Vaiśampāyana said: “O Keśava, from their very childhood the Pāṇḍavas were roused by the deep blare of conches and war-drums, by the sweet beat of the mṛdaṅga, and by the flute’s melodious strain.” He then declares a general moral truth: the steadfast seek the “final state” of experience—freedom beyond ordinary pleasure and pain—while those attached to coarse, worldly enjoyments remain confined to the “middle” level of gratification. The truly resolute, accepting even the greatest hardships as duty (dharma), endure them gladly and in the end attain a fulfillment surpassing merely human pleasures. Thus the wise hold that reaching the ultimate state beyond dualities is real happiness, whereas the in-between condition—caught between pleasure and pain—is itself suffering.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts two orientations: the dhīra (steadfast) aim for the ‘final’ state—freedom beyond the swing of pleasure and pain—while those attached to grāmya (worldly) pleasures remain stuck in an intermediate, unstable satisfaction. True happiness is presented as the culmination beyond dualities, reached through disciplined endurance of duty-bound hardships.
Vaiśampāyana addresses Keśava (Kṛṣṇa) and refers to the Pāṇḍavas being awakened from childhood, then uses that setting to introduce a broader reflection on character: how the noble endure hardship for dharma and thereby reach a higher fulfillment than ordinary sensual enjoyment.