Shloka 16
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 53: Arjuna’s Jayadratha-vadha Pratijñā and Droṇa’s Protective Vyūha (शकटा-पद्म व्यूहः)
ततोअग्निमुपसंहत्य भगवॉललोकसत्कृत: । प्रवृत्त च निवृत्तं च कथयामास वै प्रभु:,तब विश्ववन्दित भगवान् ब्रह्माने उस अग्निका उपसंहार करके मनुष्योंके लिये प्रवृत्ति (कर्म) और निवृत्ति (ज्ञान) मार्गोंका उपदेश दिया
tato 'gnim upasaṁhatya bhagavān lokasatkṛtaḥ | pravṛttaṁ ca nivṛttaṁ ca kathayāmāsa vai prabhuḥ ||
तब लोकवन्दित भगवान् ब्रह्मा ने उस अग्नि का उपसंहार किया। तत्पश्चात् प्रभु-आचार्य ने मनुष्यों को प्रवृत्ति (धर्मयुक्त कर्म) और निवृत्ति (वैराग्य-जन्य ज्ञान) — दोनों मार्गों का उपदेश दिया।
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a twofold ethical-spiritual framework: pravṛtti (right engagement in duties and action) and nivṛtti (withdrawal/renunciation culminating in liberating knowledge). It implies that both are legitimate disciplines when aligned with dharma and taught by a competent authority.
Nārada reports that after concluding the fire-rite (bringing the sacrificial fire to its formal close), the revered Lord addresses people and instructs them on the two complementary ways of life—active duty and renunciant knowledge.