Shloka 41

Vānaprastha-vṛtti and the Transition toward the Fourth Āśrama (वानप्रस्थवृत्तिः चतुर्थाश्रमोपक्रमश्च)

Devanagari script

इत्येषा भावजा बुद्धि: कथिता ते न संशय: । एवं भवति निर्द॑न्द्वो ब्रह्माणं चाधिगच्छति

Transliteration

ity eṣā bhāvajā buddhiḥ kathitā te na saṁśayaḥ | evaṁ bhavati nirdvandvo brahmāṇaṁ cādhigacchati |

Translation

毗耶娑说：“我已向你阐明——毫无疑惑——由内在净化与正当心向所生的慧（buddhi）。凡依所述而修，离诸对待二相（如乐与苦、得与失）者，必真实证得梵（Brahman）；对此并无不定。”

Word by Word

• {'iti': 'thus

• in this manner (concluding particle)', 'eṣā': 'this (feminine demonstrative, referring to the teaching/insight)', 'bhāvajā': 'born of bhāva

• arising from inner disposition, purified feeling/intent', 'buddhiḥ': 'intelligence

• spiritual understanding', 'kathitā': 'told

• taught', 'te': 'to you', 'na saṁśayaḥ': 'no doubt

• without uncertainty', 'evaṁ': 'thus

• in this way (as described)', 'bhavati': 'becomes

• comes to be', 'nirdvandvaḥ': 'free from द्वन्द्व (pairs of opposites)

• beyond dualities', 'brahmāṇam': 'Brahman (the Absolute reality) (accusative singular)', 'ca': 'and', 'adhigacchati': 'attains

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• Brahman

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Vyāsa affirms that true spiritual discernment arises from purified inner disposition (bhāva-śuddhi). By sustained practice one becomes nirdvandva—unshaken by opposites like pleasure/pain—and such equanimity culminates in realization of Brahman.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the didactic setting of Śānti Parva, Vyāsa concludes a section of instruction by summarizing the teaching on the ‘buddhi born of inner purification’ and assures the listener that freedom from dualities leads to Brahman-realization.