Shloka 23
Skanda–Mātṛgaṇa-janma: Kumārakāḥ, Kanyāgaṇāḥ, and the Vīrāṣṭaka (स्कन्द-मातृगण-सम्भवः)
असंतोषस्य नास्त्यन्तस्तुष्टिस्तु परमं सुखम् । न शोचन्ति गताध्वान: पश्यन्त: परमां गतिम्
asaṃtoṣasya nāsty antaḥ tuṣṭis tu paramaṃ sukham | na śocanti gatādhvānaḥ paśyantaḥ paramāṃ gatim ||
Pemburu itu berkata: “Ketidakpuasan tiada bertepi; tetapi rasa cukup itulah kebahagiaan tertinggi. Mereka yang telah menamatkan perjalanan hidup tidak berdukacita, kerana mereka memandang tujuan yang paling luhur.”
व्याध उवाच
Educational Q&A
Endless craving (asaṃtoṣa) cannot be satisfied, so it perpetuates suffering; contentment (tuṣṭi) is presented as the highest happiness. The verse also links freedom from grief to spiritual vision: one who has ‘completed the journey’ and perceives the supreme goal (paramā gati) is not shaken by sorrow.
In Vana Parva, the hunter (Vyādha) is speaking as a moral instructor. He offers a concise dharmic reflection to his listener, contrasting insatiable dissatisfaction with the peace of contentment and describing the ungrieving steadiness of those oriented toward the highest end.