Shloka 2
Adhyāya 177: Pañca-mahābhūta-vicāra and Vṛkṣa-jīva-lakṣaṇa
Five Elements Inquiry and the Status of Plant Life
युधिष्ठिरने पूछा--पितामह! धनी और निर्धन दोनों स्वतन्त्रतापूर्वक व्यवहार करते हैं; फिर उन्हें किस रूपमें और कैसे सुख और दुःखकी प्राप्ति होती है? ।।
Bhīṣma uvāca: Atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṁ purātanam | Śampākena iha muktena gītaṁ śāntigatena ca ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Yudhiṣṭhira, mengenai hal ini para bijak mengemukakan sebuah kisah purba sebagai teladan—nyanyian yang dilantunkan di sini oleh Śampāka, seorang mukta yang telah mencapai kedamaian tertinggi.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames the ethical inquiry about how pleasure and pain arise by introducing a traditional exemplum: the testimony of a peace-established, liberated sage (Śampāka). The method is to ground abstract questions of karma and experience in a concrete narrative that illustrates the inner causes of sukha and duḥkha beyond mere external wealth or poverty.
After Yudhiṣṭhira’s question about why both rich and poor seem to act freely yet still meet happiness and suffering, Bhishma begins his reply by announcing that learned people cite an ancient account. He signals that Śampāka—described as liberated and tranquil—will be the authoritative voice of that illustrative story.