Shloka 20
Gṛhastha-vṛtti and Niyama: Models of Householder Livelihood and Discipline (गृहस्थवृत्ति-नियमाः)
संशयं स तु कामात्मा चलचित्तोडल्पचेतन: । अप्राज्ञो न तरत्येनं यो हवास्ते न स गच्छति,कामनाओंमें आसक्त, चंचलचित्त, मन्दबुद्धि एवं अज्ञानी पुरुष संदेहमें पड़ जानेके कारण कालनदको पार नहीं कर पाता तथा जो निनश्रेष्ट होकर बैठ जाता है, वह भी उसके पार नहीं जा सकता
saṁśayaṁ sa tu kāmātmā calacitto 'lpacetanaḥ | aprājño na taraty enaṁ yo ha vāste na sa gacchati ||
संशयं स तु कामात्मा चलचित्तोऽल्पचेतनः । अप्राज्ञो न तरत्येनं यो ह्वास्ते न स गच्छति ॥
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Desire-driven restlessness breeds doubt, and doubt prevents one from overcoming the great obstacle of Time (mortality and worldly flux). Equally, giving up effort and merely remaining inert cannot lead to the goal. Steadiness of mind and purposeful striving are required for progress in dharma.
In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Vyāsa delivers a moral instruction using the image of a formidable river—identified in the surrounding tradition as the ‘river of Time.’ He contrasts two failures: the confused, craving person who cannot cross due to doubt, and the person who stops striving altogether, who also cannot reach the far shore.