Shloka 47
Śānti-parva 168: Śoka-nivṛtti-buddhi (The Cognition that Reduces Grief) and Piṅgalā’s Nairāśya
एतत् प्रधानं च न कामकारो यथा नियुक्तोडस्मि तथा करोमि । भूतानि सर्वाणि विधिरन्नियुद्धक्ते विधिर्बलीयानिति वित्त सर्वे
etat pradhānaṃ ca na kāmakāro yathā niyukto ’smi tathā karomi | bhūtāni sarvāṇi vidhir niyuṅkte vidhir balīyān iti vitta sarve ||
ಇಂತಹ ಚಿಂತನೆಯೇ ಮೋಕ್ಷಕ್ಕೆ ಪ್ರಧಾನ ಉಪಾಯ; ಸ್ವೇಚ್ಛಾಚಾರವಲ್ಲ. ವಿಧಾತನು ನನಗೆ ಯಾವ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ನಿಯೋಜಿಸಿದ್ದಾನೋ, ನಾನು ಅದನ್ನೇ ಮಾಡುತ್ತೇನೆ. ವಿಧಿಯೇ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಜೀವಿಗಳನ್ನು ಅವರವರ ಕಾರ್ಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಯೋಜಿಸುತ್ತದೆ; ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ನೀವೆಲ್ಲ ತಿಳಿದುಕೊಳ್ಳಿರಿ—ವಿಧಿ (ದೈವ)ಯೇ ಬಲಿಷ್ಠ.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that liberation-oriented living rests on thoughtful discernment and dutiful action, not on impulsive self-will; all beings are directed by vidhi (ordinance), which is portrayed as more powerful than personal preference.
In the Śānti Parva’s reflective discourse, Yudhiṣṭhira explains his stance on action: he performs the role assigned to him, emphasizing that a higher ordinance directs creatures into their respective duties, and urging listeners to recognize the strength of that ordinance.