Shloka 35
Skanda-janma: Śivā/Svāhā, Agni, and the Manifestation of Guha
Mahābhārata 3.214
आकिज्चन्यं सुसंतोषो निराशित्वमचापलम् | एतदेव पर ज्ञानं सदात्मज्ञानमुत्तमम्,कुछ भी संग्रह न रखना, सभी दशाओंमें अत्यन्त संतुष्ट रहना तथा कामना और लोलुपताको त्याग देना--यही परम ज्ञान है और यही सत्यस्वरूप उत्तम आत्मज्ञान है
ākiñcanyaṁ susantoṣo nirāśitvam acāpalam | etad eva paraṁ jñānaṁ sadātmajñānam uttamam ||
Người thợ săn nói: “Không sở hữu gì cả, luôn an nhiên mãn nguyện trong mọi cảnh ngộ, và dứt bỏ ham muốn cùng lòng tham cuống quýt—chỉ bấy nhiêu là tri kiến tối thượng. Đó chính là tự tri tối cao, phù hợp với chân lý.”
व्याध उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines ‘highest knowledge’ as an inner discipline: non-accumulation (ākiñcanya), unwavering contentment (susantoṣa), freedom from expectation (nirāśitva), and steadiness without restless wavering (acāpalam). Together these purify the mind and make true self-knowledge (sat-ātma-jñāna) possible.
In the Vana Parva’s dharma-instruction context, the hunter (vyādha) speaks as a moral teacher, presenting a practical path of inner renunciation and mental steadiness, emphasizing that genuine wisdom is measured by conduct and detachment rather than status or outward appearance.