Shloka 15
असंतोषादिदोष-निरूपणम्
On the Faults of Discontent and the Discipline of Detachment
पन्थानौ पितृयानश्व देवयानश्व विश्रुतौ । ईजाना: पितृयानेन देवयानेन मोक्षिण:
panthānau pitṛyānaś ca devayānaś ca viśrutau | ījānāḥ pitṛyānena devayānena mokṣiṇaḥ ||
ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର କହିଲେ—ଦୁଇଟି ପଥ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ: ପିତୃୟାନ ଓ ଦେବୟାନ। ପିତୃୟାନ ଅନୁସାରେ ଯଜ୍ଞକର୍ମ କରୁଥିବାମାନେ ପିତୃମାର୍ଗକୁ ପାଆନ୍ତି; ଦେବୟାନରେ ଗତି କରୁଥିବାମାନେ ମୋକ୍ଷ ପାଆନ୍ତି।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse distinguishes two classical spiritual trajectories: pitṛyāna, linked with sacrificial/ritual merit and the ancestral realm, and devayāna, linked with the higher divine course culminating in liberation (mokṣa). It frames ethical-spiritual choice as a choice of path shaped by one’s practice and aim.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and ultimate good, Yudhiṣṭhira raises a doctrinal point about the well-known ‘two paths’ taught in śāstric tradition, contrasting outcomes for ritual performers and those who follow the divine path toward release.