Shloka 20
Śuka–Janaka Saṃvāda: Āśrama-krama, Jñāna-vijñāna, and the Marks of Liberation (शुक-जनक संवादः)
दानेन चात्मग्रहणमस्पृहत्वं परार्थता । सर्वभूतदया चैव सच्त्वस्यैते गुणा: स्मृता:,धैर्य, आनन्द, प्रीति, उत्कर्ष, प्रकाश (ज्ञानशक्ति), सुख, शुद्धि, आरोग्य, संतोष, श्रद्धा, अकार्पण्य (दीनताका अभाव), असंरम्भ (क्रोधका अभाव), क्षमा, धृति, अहिंसा, समता, सत्य, ऋणसे रहित होना, मृदुता, लज्जा, अचंचलता, शौच, सरलता, सदाचार, अलोलुपता, हृदयमें सम्भ्रमका न होना, इष्ट और अनिष्टके वियोगका बखान न करना, दानके द्वारा धैर्य धारण करना, किसी वस्तुकी इच्छा न करना, परोपकार और सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंपर दया--ये सब सत्त्वसम्बन्धी गुण बताये गये हैं
yājñavalkya uvāca | dānena cātmagrahaṇam aspṛhatvaṁ parārthatā | sarvabhūtadayā caiva sattvasyaite guṇāḥ smṛtāḥ | dhairyam ānandaḥ prītiḥ utkarṣaḥ prakāśaḥ (jñānaśaktiḥ) sukhaṁ śuddhir ārogyaṁ santoṣaḥ śraddhā akāarpaṇyam asaṁrambhaḥ kṣamā dhṛtir ahiṁsā samatā satyam ṛṇarahitatā mṛdutā lajjā acaṁcalatā śaucaṁ saralatā sadācāraḥ alolupatā hṛdaye asambhramaḥ iṣṭāniṣṭaviyogakathānābhidhānam dānena dhairyadhāraṇam akāmataiva paropakāraḥ sarvaprāṇiṣu dayā—ete sarve sattvasaṁbandhino guṇāḥ proktāḥ |
Yājñavalkya said: Through giving arise self-mastery, freedom from craving, living for the good of others, and compassion toward all beings—these are remembered as the qualities of sattva. Also counted among sattva are: steadiness, joy, affection, uplift, inner illumination (the power of knowledge), happiness, purity, health, contentment, faith, absence of meanness, absence of anger, forgiveness, fortitude, non-violence, equanimity, truthfulness, freedom from debt, gentleness, modesty, unshakable composure, cleanliness, straightforwardness, good conduct, non-greed, an untroubled heart, not lamenting separation from the pleasant or the unpleasant, sustaining courage through generosity, desirelessness, beneficence, and mercy toward all living creatures. These are declared to be sattvic virtues.
याज़्वल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sattva is defined by a cluster of ethical and psychological virtues—generosity, self-restraint, desirelessness, truth, equanimity, non-violence, and compassion—showing that inner clarity is sustained by outward beneficence and disciplined conduct.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right living, the sage Yājñavalkya enumerates the recognized marks of a sattvic disposition, presenting a practical catalogue of virtues to be cultivated for peace and moral excellence.