Shloka 19
Jñāna-plava (The Raft of Knowledge): Svabhāva, Prajñā, and the Ascent to Ātmajñāna
आस्थितस्तमहं मार्गमसूयिष्यामि क॑ कथम् | निन्द्यमान: प्रशस्तो वा हृष्ये5हं केन हेतुना,मैंने भी उसी धर्ममार्गका अवलम्बन किया है; अत: अपनी निन्दा सुनकर क्यों किसीके प्रति द्वेष-दृष्टि करूँ? अथवा प्रशंसा सुनकर भी किसलिये हर्ष मानूँ?
āsthitas tam ahaṃ mārgaṃ asūyiṣyāmi kaḥ katham | nindyamānaḥ praśasto vā hṛṣye ’haṃ kena hetunā ||
Ich habe auf eben jenem Pfad des Dharma festen Stand genommen. Wenn ich also Tadel höre, warum sollte ich irgendwen mit Argwohn und Bosheit ansehen? Und selbst wenn ich Lob höre—aus welchem Grund sollte ich mich darüber erheben?
जैगीषव्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
One who is established in dharma should not be shaken by social reactions. Blame should not provoke hostility, and praise should not inflate the ego; both are external and unstable, whereas dharma is an inner commitment.
Jaigiṣavya, speaking in the Śānti Parva’s ethical discourse, explains his stance of inner steadiness: since he follows the dharmic path, he refuses to respond to criticism with resentment or to compliments with self-congratulation.