Shloka 7
Adhyāya 287 — Janaka’s Inquiry on Śreyas, Abhayadāna, and Asaṅga
Non-attachment
ज्ञाने होवं प्रवृत्ति: स््थात् कार्याणामविशेषत: । यत् कार्य न व्यवस्यामस्तद् भवान् वक्तुमहति
jñāne hovaṁ pravṛttiḥ sthāt kāryāṇām aviśeṣataḥ | yat kāryaṁ na vyavasyāmas tad bhavān vaktum arhati ||
毗湿摩说道：“由履行诸般义务，一般而言确能引发对求知之道的投入；然而我们无法确知：究竟是哪一种行为、以何种方式去行，才能导向那觉悟。因此，圣仙啊，请为我们开示当行之事——尤其是在那些我们自己无法裁定的法义之处。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma highlights a common ethical problem: many duties are taught in the śāstras, but it is not always clear which specific action, done in which way, best supports the rise of spiritual knowledge. Therefore one should seek guidance from a competent sage when dharma is uncertain.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Bhīṣma addresses a sage respectfully, admitting uncertainty about determining the precise duty that leads toward knowledge, and requests a clear prescription for what should be done when one cannot decide.