Shloka 45
अध्याय १७८ — प्राणवायुगतिः तथा शारीराग्निव्यवस्था
Adhyāya 178 — The courses of prāṇa-vāyu and the regulation of the bodily fire
निर्वेद निर्व॒तिं तृप्तिं शान्तिं सत्यं दमं क्षमाम् । सर्वभूतदयां चैव विद्धि मां समुपागतम्
nirveda nirvṛtiṃ tṛptiṃ śāntiṃ satyaṃ damaṃ kṣamām | sarvabhūtadayāṃ caiva viddhi māṃ samupāgatam ||
Bhīṣma sprach: Wisse klar, dass ich diese Tugenden erlangt habe—Unverhaftetheit, innere Genügsamkeit, Sättigung des Herzens, Frieden, Wahrhaftigkeit, Selbstbeherrschung, Vergebung und Mitgefühl gegenüber allen Lebewesen. In diesem Zustand ist mein Geist in ruhiger sittlicher Klarheit gegründet, frei von Unruhe und Feindseligkeit.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma presents a cluster of dharmic virtues—dispassion, inner repose, contentment, peace, truthfulness, self-restraint, forgiveness, and universal compassion—as marks of spiritual and ethical maturity. The teaching emphasizes that true strength is shown not by domination but by mastery of oneself and benevolence toward all beings.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhīṣma speaks as a revered elder-teacher, describing his present inner state. He asks the listener to recognize that he has arrived at a condition grounded in calmness and virtue, suitable for imparting guidance on dharma and right conduct.