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 ||
Bhishma berkata: “Baginda mempunyai seorang murid bernama Pañcaśikha, yang dibesarkan dengan susu seorang wanita manusia. Ada seorang wanita Brahmana berumah tangga bernama Kapilā. Setelah dianggap sebagai anaknya, dia menyusu pada payudaranya; maka, kerana dikenali sebagai anak Kapilā, dia masyhur dengan nama Kāpileya. Dia telah mencapai budi yang teguh dan bersifat pelepasan—tetap berpegang pada Brahman.”
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.