Shloka 47
Śānti-parva 168: Śoka-nivṛtti-buddhi (The Cognition that Reduces Grief) and Piṅgalā’s Nairāśya
एतत् प्रधानं च न कामकारो यथा नियुक्तोडस्मि तथा करोमि । भूतानि सर्वाणि विधिरन्नियुद्धक्ते विधिर्बलीयानिति वित्त सर्वे
etat pradhānaṃ ca na kāmakāro yathā niyukto ’smi tathā karomi | bhūtāni sarvāṇi vidhir niyuṅkte vidhir balīyān iti vitta sarve ||
Wika ni Yudhiṣṭhira: Ang ganitong pagninilay ang pangunahing daan tungo sa paglaya—hindi ang pagkilos ayon sa kapritso. Kung paano ako itinalaga, gayon ako kumikilos. Ang Tagapag-ayos ng Kapalaran ang nagtutulak sa lahat ng nilalang sa kani-kanilang gawain; kaya alamin ninyong lahat na ang tadhana—ang banal na kautusan—ang mas makapangyarihan.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that liberation-oriented living rests on thoughtful discernment and dutiful action, not on impulsive self-will; all beings are directed by vidhi (ordinance), which is portrayed as more powerful than personal preference.
In the Śānti Parva’s reflective discourse, Yudhiṣṭhira explains his stance on action: he performs the role assigned to him, emphasizing that a higher ordinance directs creatures into their respective duties, and urging listeners to recognize the strength of that ordinance.