Shloka 4
Adhyāya 287 — Janaka’s Inquiry on Śreyas, Abhayadāna, and Asaṅga
Non-attachment
स्वाश्रमं समनुप्राप्तं नारदं देववर्चसम् । वीतमोहक्लमं विप्र॑ ज्ञानतृप्तं जितेन्द्रिय: । श्रेयस्कामो यतात्मानं नारदं गालवोडब्रवीत्,एक समयकी बात है, कल्याणकी इच्छा रखनेवाले जितेन्द्रिय गालव मुनिने अपने आश्रमपर पधारे हुए देवोपम तेजस्वी ब्राह्मण, मोह और क्लान्तिसे रहित, ज्ञानानन्दसे परिपूर्ण एवं मनको वशमें रखनेवाले देवर्षि नारदजीसे इस प्रकार पूछा--
svāśramaṃ samanupprāptaṃ nāradaṃ devavarcasaṃ | vītamohaklamaṃ vipraṃ jñānatṛptaṃ jitendriyam | śreyaskāmo yatātmānaṃ nāradaṃ gālavovabravīt ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Pada suatu ketika, resi Gālava—yang mengekang diri dan mendambakan śreyas—menyambut kedatangan Devarṣi Nārada di pertapaannya. Nārada, brahmana bercahaya laksana dewa, bebas dari delusi dan letih, puas oleh pengetahuan, serta menaklukkan indria. Maka Gālava bertanya kepadanya demikian.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the ethical ideal of seeking śreyas (the highest good) through self-restraint and knowledge: the worthy questioner (Gālava) approaches a realized, sense-controlled sage (Nārada), implying that right inquiry and right teacher are prerequisites for dharmic understanding.
A scene is set for instruction: Nārada arrives at Gālava’s hermitage, described with marks of spiritual attainment (freedom from delusion and fatigue, contentment in knowledge, mastery of senses). Gālava, desiring ultimate welfare, begins to question him.