Shloka 15
Śrī–Indra–Bali Saṃvāda: The Departure and Fourfold Placement of Lakṣmī
तस्य पञ्चशिख: शिष्यो मानुष्या पयसा भृतः । ब्राह्मणी कपिला नाम काचिदासीत् कुटुम्बिनी
tasya pañcaśikhaḥ śiṣyo mānuṣyā payasā bhṛtaḥ | brāhmaṇī kapilā nāma kācid āsīt kuṭumbinī ||
ഭീഷ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—അവനു പഞ്ചശിഖൻ എന്ന ശിഷ്യൻ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു; ഒരു മനുഷ്യസ്ത്രീയുടെ പാലിൽ വളർന്നവൻ. കപിലാ എന്നൊരു ഗൃഹസ്ഥ ബ്രാഹ്മണസ്ത്രീയും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how spiritual stature is grounded in inner realization and steadfastness (naiṣṭhikī buddhi, brahma-niṣṭhā), not merely in birth. Even a disciple’s social identity (being called Kāpileya) is presented as secondary to his firm orientation toward Brahman.
Bhishma introduces Pañcaśikha as a disciple associated with Kapilā, a Brahmin householder woman who nursed him. Because he was treated as her son and fed at her breast, he became known by the patronymic Kāpileya; the narration then notes his attainment of a steadfast, Brahman-centered intellect.