Shloka 41
अश्वशिरो-आख्यानम्
Aśvaśiras / Hayaśiras Narrative: Retrieval of the Vedas
मुक्तानां तु गतिर्तब्रह्यन् क्षेत्रज्ञ इति कल्पिता | स हि सर्वगुणश्वैव निर्गुणश्वैव कथ्यते,ब्रह्म! मुक्त पुरुषोंकी गति क्षेत्रज्ञ परमात्मा निश्चित किया गया है। वही सर्वसदगुणसम्पन्न तथा निर्मुण भी कहलाता है
muktānāṃ tu gatir brahman kṣetrajña iti kalpitā | sa hi sarvaguṇaś caiva nirguṇaś caiva kathyate, brahma ||
Nārada berkata: “Wahai Brahman, tujuan yang ditetapkan bagi mereka yang terbebas ialah Kṣetrajña—Sang ‘Yang Mengetahui Medan’ (Diri Tertinggi). Dia disebut memiliki segala keunggulan, namun pada masa yang sama juga dikatakan melampaui segala sifat.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the final goal of liberation is realization of the Kṣetrajña (the Supreme Knower of the Field). The Supreme is described in a twofold way: as sarvaguṇa (the fullness of all auspicious excellences) and as nirguṇa (beyond all limiting qualities/guṇas). This reconciles devotional language about divine attributes with philosophical language about transcendence.
Within the Shānti Parva’s instruction on peace and liberation, Nārada is addressing a Brahmanical interlocutor and clarifying the metaphysical destination of the liberated. The discussion is doctrinal rather than event-driven, aiming to guide ethical and spiritual orientation toward the highest Self.