Shloka 62

मोक्षे गार्हस्थ्यधर्मे वा कि नु श्रेयस्करं भवेत्‌ | तब मुनिश्रेष्ठ देवल पुनः अपनी बुद्धिसे विचार करने लगे, मोक्ष और गार्हस्थ्यधर्म इनमेंसे कौन-सा मेरे लिये श्रेयस्कर होगा ।।

mokṣe gārhasthyadharme vā ki nu śreyaskaraṃ bhavet | iti niścitya manasā devalo rājasattamaḥ ||

毗湿摩波耶那说道:“究竟哪一种更为有益——解脱(mokṣa),还是居家者之法(家住法)?”他在心中作此决断后,圣贤提婆罗又再沉思权衡,辨别何道方能导向至高之善。

मोक्षेin liberation (moksha)
मोक्षे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमोक्ष
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
गार्हस्थ्यधर्मेin the householder-duty
गार्हस्थ्यधर्मे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootगार्हस्थ्यधर्म
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
किम्what?
किम्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
नुindeed/then (interrogative particle)
नु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनु
श्रेयस्करम्more beneficial, better
श्रेयस्करम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रेयस्कर
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
भवेत्might be / would be
भवेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
इतिthus
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
निश्चित्यhaving ascertained/decided
निश्चित्य:
TypeVerb
Rootनि-√चि
FormAbsolutive (Gerund), क्त्वा/ल्यप् (here: -त्य)
मनसाwith the mind
मनसा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootमनस्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
देवलःDevala (proper name)
देवलः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदेवल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
राजसत्तमःbest among kings
राजसत्तमः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootराजसत्तम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
D
Devala
J
Janamejaya

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the classical Indian ethical inquiry into śreyas (the highest good): whether one should prioritize mokṣa through renunciation or fulfill gārhasthya-dharma as a disciplined, duty-centered path. It presents moral reasoning as essential—one must reflect and decide according to what truly leads to lasting welfare, not merely immediate preference.

Vaiśampāyana reports that the sage Devala is internally deliberating. He reconsiders, with focused mind, which course is superior for him—pursuit of liberation or commitment to the householder’s obligations—setting up a discussion on life-choices and dharma.