Shloka 48
तृष्णाक्षय-उपदेशः
Instruction on the Cessation of Craving
एवं चतुर्णा वर्णानामाश्रमाण्ां प्रवृत्तिषु । एकमालम्बमानानां निर्णये कि निरामयम्
evaṁ caturṇāṁ varṇānām āśramāṇāṁ pravṛttiṣu | ekam ālambamānānāṁ nirṇaye kiṁ nirāmayam ||
Kaya nga, sa iba’t ibang gawain ng apat na uri at mga yugto ng buhay, iisa lamang ang sinasandigan ng mga tao—ang kaligayahan—ginagawa itong layon at dito sumusunod ang kanilang lakad. Kaya sabihin mo nang tiyak: ano ang kaligayahang di-nadadapuan ng sakit at di-nasisira?
कपिल उवाच
Educational Q&A
All human roles and life-stages, despite their diverse duties, are ultimately driven by the pursuit of happiness. Kapila presses for a definitive account of the highest kind of happiness—one that is not mixed with suffering or decay—implying a shift from ordinary pleasure to enduring well-being grounded in spiritual insight.
In the Shanti Parva’s philosophical dialogue, Kapila is speaking and challenges the discussion to move beyond conventional aims within varṇa and āśrama duties. He asks for a conclusive definition of “nirāmaya” (unafflicted) and “akṣaya” (imperishable) happiness as the true goal behind all pursuits.