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,“'मुने! शास्त्रोंमें बहुत-से कर्तव्यकर्म बताये गये हैं, उनमेंसे अमुक कर्मके इस प्रकार करनेसे ज्ञानमार्ममें प्रवृत्ति हो सकती है, इसका विशेषरूपसे हमें निश्चय नहीं हो पाता है; अतः हमारे लिये जो कर्तव्य हो और जिसका निर्धारण हम न कर पाते हों, उसे आप ही हमें बतानेकी कृपा करें
jñāne hovaṁ pravṛttiḥ sthāt kāryāṇām aviśeṣataḥ | yat kāryaṁ na vyavasyāmas tad bhavān vaktum arhati ||
ज्ञाने होवं प्रवृत्तिः स्थात् कार्याणामविशेषतः। यत् कार्यं न व्यवस्यामस्तद् भवान् वक्तुमर्हति॥
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.