Shloka 4
कर्मविद्या-भेदः
Karma–Vidyā Distinction: Paths of Bondage and Release
ततः प्रलीने सर्वस्मिन् स्थावरे जड़मे तथा । निर्वक्षा निस्तृणा भूमिर्दृश्यते कूर्मपृष्ठठत्
tataḥ pralīne sarvasmin sthāvare jaḍame tathā | nirvṛkṣā nistṛṇā bhūmir dṛśyate kūrmapṛṣṭhavat ||
ಅನಂತರ ಸ್ಥಾವರ ಮತ್ತು ಜಡ ಸಹಿತ ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಲೀನವಾದಾಗ, ವೃಕ್ಷರಹಿತವೂ ತೃಣರಹಿತವೂ ಆದ ಈ ಭೂಮಿ ಆಮೆಯ ಬೆನ್ನಿನಂತೆ ಕಾಣುತ್ತದೆ.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores impermanence: even the earth’s living cover—trees and grass—can vanish at dissolution. Ethically, it supports detachment and humility, reminding the listener not to cling to worldly forms as permanent.
Vyāsa describes a stage of pralaya (cosmic withdrawal) in which all beings and the stationary world have merged back, leaving the earth barren and smooth-looking, compared to a tortoise’s back.