Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 16
अव्यक्त-मानस-सृष्टिवादः
Doctrine of Creation from the Unmanifest ‘Mānasa’
एवं पुत्राश्न पौत्राश्न ज्ञातयो बान्धवास्तथा | तेषां स्नेहो न कर्तव्यो विप्रयोगो ध्रुवो हि तैः
evaṁ putrāś ca pautrāś ca jñātayo bāndhavās tathā | teṣāṁ sneho na kartavyo viprayogo dhruvo hi taiḥ ||
« De même, on rencontre dans la vie fils et petits-fils, parents et proches. Mais il ne faut pas nourrir envers eux un attachement qui s’agrippe, car la séparation d’avec eux est assurée, tôt ou tard. »
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Affection for family is natural, but one should avoid possessive attachment (sneha as clinging), because separation (viprayoga) from all relations is inevitable; the verse urges inner detachment grounded in the truth of impermanence.
A brāhmaṇa speaker offers reflective instruction in the Śānti Parva, emphasizing that even the closest familial ties—sons, grandsons, and relatives—are not permanent companions, and therefore one should not base one’s peace on attachment to them.