Shloka 15
नारद–असित (देवल) संवादः — भूतप्रभवाप्यय, इन्द्रिय-गुण-विवेक, क्षेत्रज्ञ-तत्त्व
एवं विदित्वा सर्वार्थानारभेतेति वैदिकम् । नारभेतेति चान्यत्र नैछ्िकी श्रूयते श्रुति:
evaṁ viditvā sarvārthān ārabheteti vaidikam | nārabheteti cānyatra naiṣkikī śrūyate śrutiḥ ||
कपिल ने कहा—इस प्रकार सब प्रयोजनों को जानकर कर्म का आरम्भ करना चाहिए—यह वैदिक मत है। परन्तु अन्यत्र एक दूसरी निष्ठा-सम्बन्धी श्रुति भी सुनी जाती है, जो कहती है कि कर्म का आरम्भ ही न करे।
कपिल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Kapila highlights a tension within scriptural discourse: one strand of Vedic teaching endorses undertaking action after proper understanding, while another śruti passage is cited as advocating non-initiation of action—pointing to the need for discernment about context, aim (dharma/artha/mokṣa), and the seeker’s stage of life.
In the Śānti Parva’s philosophical instruction, Kapila is presenting competing scriptural viewpoints to frame a discussion on whether liberation-oriented wisdom leads to engaged action (performed with understanding) or to renunciant non-engagement (refraining from initiating karma).