Shloka 36
परिव्राजक-आचारः (Conduct of the Wandering Renunciant) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 269
स्यूमरश्मिरु्वाच भवन्तो ज्ञाननिष्ठा वै गृहस्था: कर्मनिश्चया: । आश्रमाणां च सर्वेषां निष्ठायामैक्यमुच्यते
syūmarśmir uvāca—bhavanto jñānaniṣṭhā vai gṛhasthāḥ karmaniścayāḥ | āśramāṇāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ niṣṭhāyām aikyam ucyate | syūmarśmiṇe pṛcchā—bhagavan! āp to jñānaniṣṭhā hain aur gṛhastha-log karmaniṣṭha hote hain; parantu āp is samay niṣṭhā meṃ sabhī āśramoṃ kī ekatā kā pratipādan kar rahe hain | is prakār jñāna aur karma kī ekatā aur pṛthaktā—donoṃ kā bhram hone se in kā ṭhīk-ṭhīk antar samajh meṃ nahīṃ ātā | isliye āp mujhe use yathocit evaṃ yathārtha rīti se batāne kī kṛpā kareṃ |
修摩罗施弥说道：“你安住于智，而居家者则安住于行。然而你如今却宣说：就修持的坚住而言，一切住期（āśrama）同归一体。由此令我迷惑——智与行究竟是一还是异？我不能明了其真实差别。故请尊者依理合宜、如实为我开示。”
कपिल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a key philosophical problem: how the commitments of knowledge (jñāna-niṣṭhā) and action (karma-niṣṭhā) relate across the four āśramas. The questioner seeks a precise account of whether these are ultimately one in aim (leading to liberation and dharma) or genuinely distinct in method and obligation.
In the Kapila-related discourse of Śānti Parva, Syūmarśmi addresses Kapila with a respectful challenge. He notes the common view that sages embody knowledge while householders embody action, yet Kapila has spoken of a unity of steadfastness across all āśramas. Syūmarśmi therefore asks for a clear, truthful explanation to resolve his doubt about unity versus difference between jñāna and karma.