अध्याय २२० — बलिवासवसंवादः
Bali–Vāsava Dialogue on Kāla and Steadfastness
न हृष्यति महत्यर्थे व्यसने च न शोचति । स वै परिमितप्रज्ञ: स दान्तो द्विज उच्यते
na hṛṣyati mahāty arthe vyasane ca na śocati | sa vai parimitaprajñaḥ sa dānto dvija ucyate ||
যে মহৎ ধন বা সাফল্য লাভে উল্লসিত হয় না এবং বিপদে পতিত হলে শোকে ভেঙে পড়ে না—সেই পরিমিতপ্রজ্ঞা ও জিতেন্দ্রিয় দ্বিজ বলে কথিত।
भीष्म उवाच
True refinement is equanimity: do not become intoxicated by great gains, and do not collapse into sorrow in misfortune. Such balance indicates measured wisdom (parimitaprajñā) and sense-mastery (dānta), which Bhīṣma presents as marks of a truly noble ‘dvija’ in conduct.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct after the war. Here he defines a hallmark of the disciplined person: steadiness of mind amid prosperity and adversity.