Shloka 23
Adhyāya 270 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on saṃnyāsa; Bhīṣma on calculable time, tamas, and karma
Vṛtra–Uśanā exemplum begins
विचार्य कुण्डधारस्तु मानुष्यं चलमध्रुवम् । तपसे मतिमाधत्त ब्राह्मणस्य युधिछ्िर,युधिष्ठिर! परंतु कुण्डधारने यह सोचकर कि मानव-जीवन चंचल एवं अस्थिर है, उस ब्राह्मणके तपोबलको भी बढ़ानेका विचार किया
vicārya kuṇḍadhārastu mānuṣyaṃ calam adhruvam | tapase matim ādhatt brāhmaṇasya yudhiṣṭhira ||
विचार्य कुण्डधारस्तु मानुष्यं चलमध्रुवम्। तपसे मतिमाधत्त ब्राह्मणस्य, युधिष्ठिर॥
मणिभद्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Recognizing the impermanence of human life should lead to purposeful self-discipline: one should direct the mind toward tapas (austerity and inner restraint) to cultivate spiritual strength and ethical steadiness.
Maṇibhadra, addressing Yudhiṣṭhira, narrates that Kuṇḍadhāra reflects on the unstable nature of human existence and therefore resolves to undertake austerities, with the intention of increasing the brāhmaṇa’s ascetic/spiritual potency.