उशनसः (शुक्रस्य) चरितम् — The Account of Uśanā (Śukra): Yoga, Grievance, and Pacification
कदा वयं करिष्याम: संन्यासं दुःखसंज्ञकम् | दुःखमेतच्छरीराणां धारणं कुरुसत्तम,कुरुश्रेष्ठी संसारी मनुष्य जिसे दुःख कहते हैं, उस संन्यासका अवलम्बन हमलोग कब करेंगे? हमें तो इन शरीरोंका धारण करना ही दुःख जान पड़ता है
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | kadā vayaṁ kariṣyāmaḥ saṁnyāsaṁ duḥkhasaṁjñakam | duḥkham etac charīrāṇāṁ dhāraṇaṁ kurusattama ||
യുധിഷ്ഠിരൻ പറഞ്ഞു— കുരുശ്രേഷ്ഠാ! ‘ദുഃഖം’ എന്നു തന്നെ വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്ന സന്ന്യാസം ഞങ്ങൾ എപ്പോൾ സ്വീകരിക്കും? കാരണം ഈ ശരീരങ്ങളെ ധരിച്ചിരിപ്പുതന്നെ എനിക്ക് ദുഃഖമായി തോന്നുന്നു।
युधिछिर उवाच
The verse frames embodied existence as inherently burdensome and points toward saṁnyāsa (renunciation) as a response to pervasive duḥkha. It signals an ethical turn from external action to inner release—questioning when it is appropriate to lay down worldly striving and seek liberation-oriented discipline.
In the Śānti Parva’s post-war reflective setting, Yudhiṣṭhira voices weariness with worldly life and the pain of sustaining the body. Addressing a revered Kuru elder (kurusattama), he asks when they will adopt renunciation, indicating his growing inclination toward ascetic counsel and liberation-focused dharma.