मृत्युकारणप्रश्नः / Inquiry into the Cause and Designation of Death
एतद्ू वै जन्मसामर्थ्य॑ ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषत: । आत्मज्ञानं शमश्लैव पर्याप्तं तत्परायणम्
etad vai janma-sāmarthyaṁ brāhmaṇasya viśeṣataḥ | ātma-jñānaṁ śamaś caiva paryāptaṁ tat-parāyaṇam ||
Inilah kemampuan bawaan yang khas pada seorang brāhmaṇa: pengetahuan tentang Ātman dan śama (ketenangan batin, pengendalian pikiran serta indria). Bagi yang berpegang teguh pada tujuan itu saja, keduanya cukup sebagai sarana mencapai pembebasan.
व्यास उवाच
Vyāsa teaches that self-knowledge (ātma-jñāna) together with inner calm and restraint (śama) is sufficient for liberation when one is wholly oriented to that highest aim.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and liberation, Vyāsa states a principle about spiritual aptitude: the brāhmaṇa’s distinctive strength lies in self-knowledge and mental discipline, which, when pursued as the supreme goal, lead to the highest end.