Shloka 2
Vimokṣa-niścaya: Pañcaśikha’s Analysis of Aggregates, Guṇas, and Tyāga (मोक्षनिर्णयः)
दुर्लभा वेदविद्वांसो वेदोक्तेषु व्यवस्थिता: । प्रयोजन महत्त्वात्तु मार्गमिच्छन्ति संस्तुतम्
durlabhā vedavidvāṁso vedokteṣu vyavasthitāḥ | prayojana-mahattvāt tu mārgam icchanti saṁstutam ||
Bhishma berkata: Mereka yang benar-benar mengetahui Veda dan teguh berpegang pada disiplin yang diperintahkan oleh Veda amatlah jarang. Namun orang yang paling tajam daya bicaranya, melihat tujuan yang lebih agung, mencari jalan yang paling dipuji oleh semua—jalan menuju moksha, pembebasan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma emphasizes that genuine Vedic learning joined with steady practice is uncommon; and that the truly wise prioritize the higher end (prayojana)—the widely praised path to liberation—over lesser aims.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and life-goals, Bhishma continues advising the listener that among Vedic paths, the discerning choose the more significant, celebrated route culminating in moksha.