Shloka 12
Vidyā–Avidyā and the Twenty-Fifth Principle
Sāṃkhya–Yoga Clarification
निर्वेदादात्मसम्बोध: सम्बोधाच्छास्त्रदर्शनम् । शाल्त्रार्थदर्शनाद् राज॑ंस्तप एवानुपश्यति
nirvedād ātma-sambodhaḥ | sambodhāc chāstra-darśanam | śāstrārtha-darśanād rājan tapa evānupaśyati ||
Wika ni Parāśara: “Mula sa paglayo sa pagnanasa (vairāgya) sumisibol ang paggising sa Sarili. Mula sa paggising na iyon dumarating ang tunay na pagharap sa mga kasulatan. At kapag malinaw nang nauunawaan ang kahulugan at layon ng mga kasulatan, O Hari, nakikita ng tao na ang tapas—mahigpit na pagpipigil sa sarili at panloob na pagsasanay—ang siyang mismong daan tungo sa kapakanan at kabutihang espirituwal.”
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a spiritual progression: dispassion (nirveda) leads to Self-awakening (ātma-sambodha); Self-awakening leads to sincere engagement with scripture; and understanding scripture’s meaning culminates in valuing tapas—disciplined austerity—as the effective means to true good.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and liberation-oriented conduct, the sage Parāśara addresses a king, explaining how inner detachment matures into Self-knowledge, then into scriptural inquiry, and finally into commitment to austerity as a practical path.