Shloka 44
Arjuna’s Mantra-Empowerment and the Pāṇḍavas’ Separation (Śiva-rūpa through Mantra)
ब्राह्मण उवाच । युक्तं न क्रियते वीर सुखं प्राप्तुं च यत्तपः । क्षात्रधर्मेण क्रियते मुक्त्यर्थं कुरुसत्तम
brāhmaṇa uvāca | yuktaṃ na kriyate vīra sukhaṃ prāptuṃ ca yattapaḥ | kṣātradharmeṇa kriyate muktyarthaṃ kurusattama
Vị Bà-la-môn nói: “Hỡi dũng sĩ, khổ hạnh chỉ để đạt lạc thú thế gian thì không hợp đạo. Nhưng nếu cũng kỷ luật ấy được thực hành theo bổn phận của một Kṣatriya, vì mục đích giải thoát, hỡi bậc ưu tú nhất trong dòng Kuru, thì mới là chính đáng.”
A Brāhmaṇa (unnamed counsel-giver within the narrative)
Tattva Level: pasha
Role: teaching
FAQs
It distinguishes desire-driven austerity from dharma-aligned discipline aimed at mokṣa—teaching that right intention and alignment with one’s ordained duty purify the soul and loosen bondage (pāśa), preparing one for Shiva’s grace.
Linga/Saguna-Shiva worship in the Purana is repeatedly framed as dharma performed with liberation-intent rather than for enjoyment or power; this verse reinforces that spiritual practice and duty become sanctified when offered toward mokṣa and Shiva-realization.
The implied takeaway is niṣkāma discipline—performing one’s duty as an offering to Shiva; practically, this aligns with steady japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and daily Shiva-pūjā done without desire for worldly reward.