Mahabharata 3.2.76 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 2, Shloka 76
ब्राह्मणानुयात्रा—शौनकोपदेशः
Brāhmaṇas Follow into Exile and Śaunaka’s Instruction
अत्र पूर्वक्षतुर्वर्ग: पितृयाणपथे स्थित: । कर्तव्यमिति यत् कार्य नाभिमानात् समाचरेत्
atra pūrvakṣaturvargaḥ pitṛyāṇapathe sthitaḥ | kartavyam iti yat kāryaṃ nābhimānāt samācaret |
अत्र पूर्वोक्तो धर्मचतुष्टयवर्गः पितृयाणपथे स्थितः। तानि चत्वारि यदि सकामभावेनानुष्ठीयन्ते तदा पितृयाणमार्गेण नयन्ति। ये तु अग्निहोत्रसन्ध्योपासनादयः नित्यकर्तव्यकर्माणि, तानि कर्तव्यबुद्ध्यैव, अभिमानं विहाय, समाचरेत्॥
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Obligatory duties should be performed from a sense of responsibility (kartavya-buddhi), not from ego or pride; and when duties are pursued with desire for results, they are said to align with the Pitṛyāna path.
Śaunaka is articulating a doctrinal distinction about motivation in dharma: certain previously listed duties, when done with fruit-seeking intent, are associated with the Pitṛyāna route, while obligatory rites and daily disciplines should be done without self-importance.
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