Shloka 19
Śānti-parva 168: Śoka-nivṛtti-buddhi (The Cognition that Reduces Grief) and Piṅgalā’s Nairāśya
आस्तिका नास्तिकाश्नैव नियता: संयमे परे । अप्रज्ञानं तमोभूतं प्रज्ञानं तु प्रकाशिता
ārjuna uvāca | āstikā nāstikāś caiva niyatāḥ saṃyame pare | aprajñānaṃ tamobhūtaṃ prajñānaṃ tu prakāśitam ||
Sinabi ni Arjuna: “Marami—maging mga naniniwala at mga hindi naniniwala—ang may disiplina at tapat sa mahigpit na pagpipigil sa sarili. Ngunit kapag hindi nakikilala kung alin ang tunay na pangunahing bagay, ang kakulangang iyon sa pag-unawa ay nagiging kamangmangan na nababalot ng dilim. Ang tunay na pag-unawa, sa kabaligtaran, ay maliwanag: inihahayag nito ang wastong prayoridad at ginagabayan ang asal tungo sa tunay na may kabuluhan.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Discipline alone is not sufficient: without prajñā (clear discernment of what is truly primary), one remains in tamas-like ignorance. Wisdom is described as light because it clarifies priorities and thereby directs ethical action.
In the Shānti Parva’s reflective instruction on dharma and right understanding, Arjuna speaks about the contrast between mere external restraint (found among both believers and skeptics) and the inner illumination of true knowledge that distinguishes right priorities.