Shloka 4
कर्मविद्या-भेदः
Karma–Vidyā Distinction: Paths of Bondage and Release
ततः प्रलीने सर्वस्मिन् स्थावरे जड़मे तथा । निर्वक्षा निस्तृणा भूमिर्दृश्यते कूर्मपृष्ठठत्
tataḥ pralīne sarvasmin sthāvare jaḍame tathā | nirvṛkṣā nistṛṇā bhūmir dṛśyate kūrmapṛṣṭhavat ||
ਫਿਰ ਜਦੋਂ ਸਥਾਵਰ ਅਤੇ ਜੜ੍ਹ ਸਮੇਤ ਸਭ ਕੁਝ ਲੀਨ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਦਰੱਖਤਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਰਹਿਤ ਅਤੇ ਘਾਹ ਤੋਂ ਖਾਲੀ ਇਹ ਧਰਤੀ ਕੱਛੂਏ ਦੀ ਪਿੱਠ ਵਰਗੀ ਦਿੱਸਦੀ ਹੈ।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores impermanence: even the earth’s living cover—trees and grass—can vanish at dissolution. Ethically, it supports detachment and humility, reminding the listener not to cling to worldly forms as permanent.
Vyāsa describes a stage of pralaya (cosmic withdrawal) in which all beings and the stationary world have merged back, leaving the earth barren and smooth-looking, compared to a tortoise’s back.