Shloka 38
तृष्णाक्षय-उपदेशः
Instruction on the Cessation of Craving
योगशास्त्रमें कथित कर्म श्रेष्ठ फल देनेवाले, उन्नति करनेवाले एवं स्थायी हैं; तो भी प्रवृत्तिमार्गी मनुष्य उनको गुणरहित (निष्फल) और अस्थिर समझते हैं ।।
yogaśāstre kathitāni karmāṇi śreṣṭha-phaladāni, unnati-karāṇi ca sthāyīni; tathāpi pravṛtti-mārgī manuṣyās tāni guṇa-rahitāni (niṣphalāni) ca asthirāṇi manyante. guṇa-śāstrāḥ sudurjñeyāḥ, jñātāś ca saduṣkarāḥ; anuṣṭhitāś cānta-vanta iti tvam anupaśyasi.
କପିଳ କହିଲେ—ଯୋଗଶାସ୍ତ୍ରରେ କଥିତ କର୍ମ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଫଳଦାୟକ, ଉନ୍ନତିକର ଏବଂ ସ୍ଥାୟୀ ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଏ; ତଥାପି ପ୍ରବୃତ୍ତିମାର୍ଗୀ ଲୋକ ସେଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ଗୁଣହୀନ, ନିଷ୍ଫଳ ଓ ଅସ୍ଥିର ବୋଲି ଭାବନ୍ତି। ଗୁଣଶାସ୍ତ୍ର ବୁଝିବା ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ କଠିନ; ବୁଝିଲା ପରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ତାହାକୁ ଆଚରଣ କରିବା ଆଉ ଅଧିକ କଠିନ। ଏବଂ ଆଚରଣ କଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ତାହାର ଫଳ ସୀମିତ ଓ ନଶ୍ୱର ବୋଲି ଦେଖାଯାଏ—ଏହା ତୁମେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଦେଖୁଛ।
कपिल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Kapila contrasts the promised excellence of yogic discipline with the common, activity-oriented mindset that dismisses it as ineffective. He emphasizes that understanding the guṇas and translating that understanding into practice is difficult, and that many action-based pursuits culminate in limited, perishable results—prompting a turn toward deeper, more enduring realization.
In Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, Kapila addresses a listener and critiques reliance on outward ritual/action for ultimate fulfillment. He points to the complexity of guṇa-doctrine and the practical difficulty of sustained discipline, underscoring that even well-performed acts often yield only finite outcomes.