Shloka 131
Anuśāsana-parva Adhyāya 112: Dharma as the sole companion; karmic witnesses; rebirth sequences
Bṛhaspati–Yudhiṣṭhira Saṃvāda
प्रज्ञानं शौचमेवेह शरीरस्य विशेषत: । तथा निष्किंचनत्वं च मनसक्षु प्रसन्नता
prajñānaṁ śaucam eveha śarīrasya viśeṣataḥ | tathā niṣkiñcanatvaṁ ca manasaś ca prasannatā ||
Bhīṣma said: Here, true discernment and purity—especially the purity of the body—along with freedom from possessiveness, and the serenity of the mind, are to be cultivated as defining marks of right conduct.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma highlights a cluster of ethical-spiritual qualities: discernment (prajñā), purity (śauca)—with emphasis on bodily cleanliness—non-possessiveness (niṣkiñcanatva), and a serene, clear mind (prasannatā). Together they describe the inner and outer discipline that supports dharma.
In the Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. This verse is part of his didactic counsel, listing virtues to be cultivated as standards of righteous living rather than describing an external action scene.