Shloka 3
अरण्यवृत्ति-वैराग्योपदेशः | Forest Discipline and the Program of Non-Attachment
क्षेम्यश्नैकाकिना गम्य: पन्था: को<स्तीति पृच्छ माम् | अथवा नेच्छसि प्रष्टमपृच्छन्नपि मे शूणु,एकाकी पुरुषके चलनेयोग्य कल्याणकारी मार्ग कौन-सा है? यह मुझसे पूछो अथवा यदि पूछना नहीं चाहते हो तो बिना पूछे भी मुझसे सुनो
kṣemyas tv ekākinā gamyaḥ panthāḥ ko 'stīti pṛccha mām | athavā necchasi praṣṭum apṛcchann api me śṛṇu ||
क्षेम्यः शुभश्चैकाकिना गन्तुं योग्यः पन्थाः कः स्यादिति मां पृच्छ। अथवा नेच्छसि पृच्छितुं, अपृच्छन्नपि मे शृणु॥
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames dharma as a ‘path’ that must be both auspicious (kṣemya) and practicable even for someone who is alone—suggesting that true ethical conduct should not depend on external support, popularity, or companionship, but be sustainable by inner resolve.
In the Shanti Parva’s reflective setting after the war, Yudhiṣṭhira speaks in a counsel-giving mode, inviting the listener to inquire about a welfare-bringing course of conduct; even if the listener hesitates to ask, he offers to explain proactively.