Shloka 33
अज्ञान–लोभयोः परस्परहेतुत्वम्
Mutual Causality of Ignorance and Greed
उभे तु यस्य सदृशे भवेतां किंस्वित् तयोस्तत्र जयो5थ न स्यात् । आचक्ष्व न: पुण्यफलं महर्षे कथं पापं नुदते धर्मशील:
ubhe tu yasya sadṛśe bhavetāṁ kiṁsvit tayos tatra jayo 'tha na syāt | ācakṣva naḥ puṇyaphalaṁ maharṣe kathaṁ pāpaṁ nudate dharmaśīlaḥ ||
商那迦说道：“若对一人而言，乐与苦真实等同，那么对这二者还会有所谓‘胜利’吗——抑或胜败之名亦不复适用？大圣者啊，请为我等宣说福德之果，并解释奉持正法者如何驱除罪业。”
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharmic inquiry: if a person attains true equanimity toward pleasure and pain, the usual notion of ‘conquering’ merit and sin becomes questionable; therefore the sage is asked to clarify the fruits of merit and the means by which a righteous life removes sin.
Śaunaka poses a philosophical question to a great seer, requesting an explanation of (1) the results of puṇya (merit) and (2) how a dharma-oriented person dispels pāpa (sin), especially in light of the ideal of equal-mindedness toward sukha and duḥkha.