Shloka 57
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
त्रिवर्गे त्रेविधा पीडानुबन्धास्त्रय एव च | अनुबन्धा: शुभा ज्ञेया: पीडाश्व परिवर्जयेत्
trivarge trevidhā pīḍānubandhās traya eva ca | anubandhāḥ śubhā jñeyāḥ pīḍāś caiva parivarjayet ||
Bhīṣma dit : Dans la poursuite des trois buts de la vie humaine—dharma, artha et kāma—s’élèvent trois afflictions qui font obstacle : la cupidité, la sottise et la faiblesse. De même, trois sortes de suites en découlent : la paix, des actes profitables à tous, et la jouissance. Ces suites doivent être tenues pour auspiciouses, tandis que les afflictions qui entravent doivent être évitées avec vigilance.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Pursuing dharma, artha, and kāma is legitimate, but it must be guarded from three inner obstacles—greed, folly, and weakness. When these are avoided, the pursuit yields auspicious consequences such as peace, universally beneficial conduct, and rightful enjoyment.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on righteous living and governance by analyzing the three aims of life and explaining which mental faults obstruct them and which outcomes should be cultivated.