Shloka 15
Śrī–Indra–Bali Saṃvāda: The Departure and Fourfold Placement of Lakṣmī
तस्य पञ्चशिख: शिष्यो मानुष्या पयसा भृतः । ब्राह्मणी कपिला नाम काचिदासीत् कुटुम्बिनी
tasya pañcaśikhaḥ śiṣyo mānuṣyā payasā bhṛtaḥ | brāhmaṇī kapilā nāma kācid āsīt kuṭumbinī ||
Sinabi ni Bhishma: “Mayroon siyang alagad na nagngangalang Pañcaśikha, na pinalaki sa gatas ng isang babaeng tao. May isang babaeng Brahmana na maybahay na nagngangalang Kapilā. Nang ituring siyang anak nito, sumuso siya sa dibdib ng babae; kaya, dahil nakilala bilang anak ni Kapilā, sumikat siya sa pangalang Kāpileya. Natamo niya ang matatag at mapagpigil na talino—nakapirmi sa Brahman.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how spiritual stature is grounded in inner realization and steadfastness (naiṣṭhikī buddhi, brahma-niṣṭhā), not merely in birth. Even a disciple’s social identity (being called Kāpileya) is presented as secondary to his firm orientation toward Brahman.
Bhishma introduces Pañcaśikha as a disciple associated with Kapilā, a Brahmin householder woman who nursed him. Because he was treated as her son and fed at her breast, he became known by the patronymic Kāpileya; the narration then notes his attainment of a steadfast, Brahman-centered intellect.