Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 45, Shloka 16
विशालानगरीप्रवेशः
Entry toward Viśālā and the Indra–Kṣīrodamathana Legend
ततस्तेषां नरश्रेष्ठ बुद्धिरासीन्महात्मनाम् ।अमरा अजराश्चैव कथं स्याम निरामया:।।।।
tatas teṣāṃ naraśreṣṭha buddhir āsīn mahātmanām | amarā ajarāś caiva kathaṃ syāma nirāmayāḥ ||
“于是，至善之人啊，那些伟大者心中生起一念：‘我们如何才能不死、不老，并远离疾病？’”
O Best among men! a thought came to those illustrious ones, 'how can we be free from old age, death and disease'?
FAQs
The verse highlights the ethical tension between aspiration and right means: the desire to overcome suffering is natural, but dharma later tests whether one pursues such goals without violating truth and righteousness.
Devas and others deliberate on how to attain freedom from death, aging, and illness—setting up the churning of the ocean.
Reflective deliberation (buddhi)—the capacity to think strategically before acting, which in dharmic contexts must be guided by restraint and right intention.