Shloka 48
तृष्णाक्षय-उपदेशः
Instruction on the Cessation of Craving
एवं चतुर्णा वर्णानामाश्रमाण्ां प्रवृत्तिषु । एकमालम्बमानानां निर्णये कि निरामयम्
evaṁ caturṇāṁ varṇānām āśramāṇāṁ pravṛttiṣu | ekam ālambamānānāṁ nirṇaye kiṁ nirāmayam ||
ಹೀಗೆ ನಾಲ್ಕು ವರ್ಣಗಳೂ ಆಶ್ರಮಗಳೂ ನಡೆಸುವ ವಿವಿಧ ಪ್ರವೃತ್ತಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಜನರು ಒಂದೇ ಆಶ್ರಯವನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿಯುತ್ತಾರೆ—ಸುಖವನ್ನು—ಅದನ್ನೇ ಗುರಿಯಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು ಸಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ನಿರ್ಣಯವಾಗಿ ಹೇಳಿ: ಆ ನಿರಾಮಯ, ಅಕ್ಷಯ ಸುಖವೇನು?
कपिल उवाच
Educational Q&A
All human roles and life-stages, despite their diverse duties, are ultimately driven by the pursuit of happiness. Kapila presses for a definitive account of the highest kind of happiness—one that is not mixed with suffering or decay—implying a shift from ordinary pleasure to enduring well-being grounded in spiritual insight.
In the Shanti Parva’s philosophical dialogue, Kapila is speaking and challenges the discussion to move beyond conventional aims within varṇa and āśrama duties. He asks for a conclusive definition of “nirāmaya” (unafflicted) and “akṣaya” (imperishable) happiness as the true goal behind all pursuits.