Shloka 4
Adhyāya 287 — Janaka’s Inquiry on Śreyas, Abhayadāna, and Asaṅga
Non-attachment
स्वाश्रमं समनुप्राप्तं नारदं देववर्चसम् । वीतमोहक्लमं विप्र॑ ज्ञानतृप्तं जितेन्द्रिय: । श्रेयस्कामो यतात्मानं नारदं गालवोडब्रवीत्
svāśramaṃ samanupprāptaṃ nāradaṃ devavarcasaṃ | vītamohaklamaṃ vipraṃ jñānatṛptaṃ jitendriyam | śreyaskāmo yatātmānaṃ nāradaṃ gālavovabravīt ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Certa vez, o sábio Gālava—autodisciplinado e desejoso do bem supremo—dirigiu-se a Devarṣi Nārada quando este chegou ao seu eremitério. Nārada resplandecia com fulgor divino, livre de ilusão e de fadiga, saciado pelo conhecimento e senhor de seus sentidos. Então Gālava lhe perguntou assim…”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the ethical ideal of seeking śreyas (the highest good) through self-restraint and knowledge: the worthy questioner (Gālava) approaches a realized, sense-controlled sage (Nārada), implying that right inquiry and right teacher are prerequisites for dharmic understanding.
A scene is set for instruction: Nārada arrives at Gālava’s hermitage, described with marks of spiritual attainment (freedom from delusion and fatigue, contentment in knowledge, mastery of senses). Gālava, desiring ultimate welfare, begins to question him.