Shloka 28
Haṃsa–Sādhya Saṃvāda: Satya, Dama, Kṣamā and the Discipline of Speech
आत्मभावं तथा स्त्रीषु मुक्तमेव पुन: पुन: । यः पश्यति सदा युक्तो यथावन्मुक्त एव सः
ātmabhāvaṃ tathā strīṣu muktam eva punaḥ punaḥ | yaḥ paśyati sadā yukto yathāvanmukta eva saḥ ||
ভীষ্ম বললেন—যে ব্যক্তি সদা যোগে সংযত থেকে নারীদের প্রতি নিজের ভাবকে বারবার মুক্তই দেখতে পায়—অর্থাৎ যার মধ্যে ভোগ্যবুদ্ধি ও আসক্তি নেই—সে যথার্থদর্শী, সত্যই মুক্ত।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Liberation is marked by inner freedom from craving and possessive, pleasure-seeking attitudes—here exemplified as the absence of objectifying desire toward women—maintained through steady yogic discipline and clear self-awareness.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and moksha, Bhishma continues advising on self-mastery: he defines a practical sign of true freedom as the mind’s settled detachment, verified repeatedly through honest inner observation.