Shloka 90
Sarasvatī–Tārkṣya Saṃvāda: Agnihotra-vidhi, Dāna-phala, and Mokṣa-prasaṅga (सरस्वती–तार्क्ष्यसंवादः)
ये योगयुक्तास्तपसि प्रसक्ता: स्वाध्यायशीला जरयन्ति देहान् । जितेन्द्रिया: प्राणिवधे निवृत्ता- स्तेषामसौ नायमरिघ्न लोक:,शत्रुसूदन! जो लोग इस लोकमें योगसाधन करते हैं, तपस्यामें संलग्न होते हैं और स्वाध्यायमें तत्पर रहते हैं तथा इस प्रकार प्राणियोंकी हिंसासे दूर रहकर इन्द्रियोंको संयममें रखते हुए (तपस्याद्वारा) अपने शरीरको दुर्बल कर देते हैं, उनके लिये इस लोकमें सुख नहीं है। वे परलोकमें ही परम कल्याणके भागी होते हैं
ye yogayuktās tapasi prasaktāḥ svādhyāyaśīlā jarayanti dehān | jitendriyāḥ prāṇivadhē nivṛttās teṣām asau nāyam ari-ghna lokaḥ, śatrusūdana |
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “Those who are disciplined in yoga, devoted to austerity, and steadfast in sacred study—who, having conquered their senses and withdrawn from harming living beings, wear down their bodies through ascetic practice—for such people, O slayer of foes, this world is not the place of (worldly) happiness. Their highest good is attained in the world beyond.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Mārkaṇḍeya teaches that rigorous spiritual discipline—yoga, austerity, and sacred study—paired with self-control and non-violence, is oriented toward ultimate welfare beyond this world; such ascetics do not seek (or receive) ordinary worldly सुख (comfort/pleasure) as their primary aim.
In the Vana Parva discourse, Mārkaṇḍeya addresses a heroic listener (invoked as “Śatrusūdana/ari-ghna”) and explains the ethical-spiritual path of ascetics: they restrain the senses, avoid harming beings, and accept bodily hardship, with the fruit of their practice culminating in higher good in the next world rather than in worldly enjoyment.