Shloka 18
महाभूत–इन्द्रिय–मनस्–बुद्धि–अन्तरात्मा विवेकः | Discrimination of Elements, Senses, Mind, Intellect, and Inner Self
बलवान् कर्णनिर्वाक: शून्यपाल: कृतश्रम: । एनं धर्म कृतवन्तस्तत:ः स्वर्गमुपागमन्
balavān karṇanirvākaḥ śūnyapālaḥ kṛtaśramaḥ | enaṃ dharmaṃ kṛtavantas tataḥ svargam upāgaman, tāta |
Vyāsa disse: “Meu filho querido, o poderoso Karṇa-nirvāka, Śūnya-pāla e Kṛta-śrama—tendo assumido e praticado esta disciplina do dharma—alcançaram depois o céu.” No contexto, a passagem apresenta sábios e mestres exemplares como testemunhas da validade do modo de vida vānaprastha (o eremita da floresta): ao adotarem contenção, austeridade e dever nessa etapa, sustentam o dharma e obtêm um destino póstumo auspicioso.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
That faithfully practicing the prescribed dharma—here, the vānaprastha (forest-dweller) discipline characterized by restraint and austerity—leads to spiritual merit and an auspicious destiny such as svarga.
Vyāsa is citing named exemplars who practiced the stated dharma; their attainment of heaven is presented as evidence of the efficacy and authority of that way of life.