Shloka 7
Adhyāya 287 — Janaka’s Inquiry on Śreyas, Abhayadāna, and Asaṅga
Non-attachment
ज्ञाने होवं प्रवृत्ति: स््थात् कार्याणामविशेषत: । यत् कार्य न व्यवस्यामस्तद् भवान् वक्तुमहति
jñāne hovaṁ pravṛttiḥ sthāt kāryāṇām aviśeṣataḥ | yat kāryaṁ na vyavasyāmas tad bhavān vaktum arhati ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Do cumprimento dos deveres em geral pode, de fato, surgir o engajamento na busca do conhecimento; contudo, não conseguimos determinar com certeza qual ato em particular, realizado de que modo, conduz a esse despertar. Portanto, ó sábio, por favor, diz-nos o que deve ser feito—especialmente naquelas questões de dever em que não conseguimos decidir por nós mesmos.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma highlights a common ethical problem: many duties are taught in the śāstras, but it is not always clear which specific action, done in which way, best supports the rise of spiritual knowledge. Therefore one should seek guidance from a competent sage when dharma is uncertain.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Bhīṣma addresses a sage respectfully, admitting uncertainty about determining the precise duty that leads toward knowledge, and requests a clear prescription for what should be done when one cannot decide.