Jarā-Mṛtyu-anatikrama: Janaka–Pañcaśikha-saṃvāda
Aging and Death Cannot Be Overstepped
तुल्यतामिह पश्यामि सदृशो5हमनेन वै । अयं हि विमलो व्यक्तमहमीदृशकस्तथा
tulyatām iha paśyāmi sadṛśo 'ham anena vai | ayaṁ hi vimalaḥ vyaktam aham īdṛśakas tathā ||
Vasiṣṭha sprach: „Hier erkenne ich Gleichheit: wahrlich, ich bin Ihm ähnlich. Denn dieses höchste Selbst ist offenkundig makellos, und auch ich bin von eben dieser Natur.“
वसिष्ठ उवाच
The core teaching is the recognition of essential sameness between the individual self and the Supreme Self: both are intrinsically pure (vimala). Ethical refinement and inner clarity support this realization, shifting identity from the ego-personality to the stainless Self.
Vasiṣṭha is speaking in a didactic context within Śānti Parva, articulating an insight of spiritual equality: he ‘sees’ (paśyāmi) that his true nature is like the manifestly pure Supreme Reality, emphasizing direct recognition rather than mere belief.