Shloka 3
Śuka’s Nirveda: Vyāsa’s Admonition on Dharma, Impermanence, and ‘Imperishable Wealth’ (अक्षय-धन)
भगवन् किमिदं श्रेय: प्रेत्य चापीह वा भवेत् । पुरुषस्याध्रुवे देहे कामस्य वशवर्तिन:,“भगवन्! इस क्षणभंगुर शरीरमें कामके अधीन होकर रहनेवाले पुरुषका इस लोक और परलोकमें किस उपायसे कल्याण हो सकता है?
bhagavan kim idaṃ śreyaḥ pretya cāpīha vā bhavet | puruṣasyādhruve dehe kāmasya vaśavartinaḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai Bhagavan, apakah jalan yang membawa kepada kesejahteraan sejati—baik selepas mati mahupun di dunia ini—bagi seorang lelaki yang mendiami tubuh yang tidak kekal dan hidup di bawah kuasa nafsu keinginan?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral problem: when a person is ruled by kāma (desire) while living in an impermanent body, what discipline or path can secure śreyas—genuine welfare—both in this life and after death. It sets up the need for self-mastery and dharmic guidance rather than impulse-driven living.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Bhīṣma addresses a revered teacher (‘Bhagavān’) and asks for instruction on the means of attaining well-being in both worlds for those dominated by desire, introducing a didactic discussion on conduct, restraint, and the pursuit of the highest good.