Shloka 5
नारद-समङ्ग-संवादः — The Nārada–Samaṅga Dialogue on Fearlessness and Equanimity
अर्था: खलु समृद्धा हि बाढं दु:खं विजानताम् | असमृद्धास्त्वपि सदा मोहयन्त्यविचक्षणान्
arthāḥ khalu samṛddhā hi bāḍhaṃ duḥkhaṃ vijānatām | asamṛddhās tv api sadā mohayanty avicakṣaṇān |
Bhishma dit : «Pour ceux qui comprennent véritablement, même les objets et les jouissances qui paraissent d’une grande prospérité sont reconnus comme une source de souffrance intense. Mais les esprits sans discernement sont sans cesse abusés par de maigres possessions et de petits plaisirs. Cet enseignement vise la clairvoyance intérieure : la convoitise rend toutes les jouissances instables et enchaînantes, tandis que le sage perce leur éclat et se tourne vers la liberté hors du désir.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Discernment transforms one’s view of pleasure: the wise recognize that even great prosperity carries suffering because it fuels attachment and fear of loss, while the undiscerning remain deluded even by trivial enjoyments. The implied remedy is viveka and the weakening of craving.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on ethical and spiritual life after the war, emphasizing the deceptive nature of worldly enjoyments and the superiority of inner freedom over external prosperity.