Shloka 20
कामद्रुम-रूपकः तथा शरीर-पुर-रूपकः
The Desire-Tree and the Body-as-City Metaphors
यद्यप्यस्य महीं दद्याद् रत्नपूर्णामिमां नर: । इदमेव ततः श्रेय इति मन्येत तत्त्ववित्
vyāsa uvāca |
yady apy asya mahīṁ dadyād ratnapūrṇām imāṁ naraḥ |
idam eva tataḥ śreya iti manyeta tattvavit |
tatra yat prītisaṁyuktaṁ kiñcid ātmani lakṣayet |
praśāntam iva saṁśuddhaṁ sattvaṁ tad upadhārayet |
Wika ni Vyāsa: Kahit pa ipamigay ng isang tao ang buong daigdig na ito na punô ng mga hiyas, hahatulan pa rin ng nakaaalam ng katotohanan na ito lamang ang higit na kabutihan—ang kaalaman. At sa bagay na ito, kapag napansin sa loob ng sarili ang isang galak na may kasamang pag-ibig—malinis at wari’y payapa—unawain na ang katangiang sattva ay sumibol at kumikilos.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
True welfare (śreyas) is knowledge, not even the greatest material gift. A practical sign of sattva is an inner state of purified, quiet gladness; recognizing this helps one discern the mind’s movement toward clarity and virtue.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on peace and right living, Vyāsa delivers a didactic comparison—jewel-filled earth versus knowledge—and then gives a diagnostic criterion for inner cultivation: noticing serene, purified joy as the mark of sattva arising.