Adhyāya 287 — Janaka’s Inquiry on Śreyas, Abhayadāna, and Asaṅga
Non-attachment
धर्मेण वेदाध्ययनं वेदान्तानां तथैव च । ज्ञानार्थानां च जिज्ञासा श्रेय एतदसंशयम्
nāradā uvāca | dharmeṇa vedādhyayanaṃ vedāntānāṃ tathaiva ca | jñānārthānāṃ ca jijñāsā śreya etad asaṃśayam ||
Dijo Nārada: Estudiar los Vedas con espíritu de dharma, y asimismo estudiar el Vedānta, y sostener una indagación sincera sobre el sentido que conduce al conocimiento verdadero—esto, sin duda, es un medio para el bien supremo.
नारद उवाच
Ethical living (dharma) should be the foundation for scriptural study; along with Vedic and Vedāntic learning, one must maintain sincere inquiry into knowledge. Such dharma-grounded study and inquiry is declared a sure means to śreyas—true and lasting welfare.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-focused setting, the sage Nārada speaks as a teacher, emphasizing the proper orientation of learning: not mere recitation, but study undertaken righteously and aimed at understanding, culminating in liberating knowledge.