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 ||
असा विचार हाच मोक्षाचा प्रधान उपाय आहे; स्वेच्छाचार नव्हे. विधात्याने मला ज्या कर्मात नेमले आहे, तेच मी करतो. विधीच सर्व प्राण्यांना त्यांच्या-त्यांच्या कार्यांत नियोजित करते; म्हणून तुम्ही सर्वांनी जाणावे की विधी (दैव) अधिक बलवान आहे.
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.