Shloka 46
Śānti-parva 168: Śoka-nivṛtti-buddhi (The Cognition that Reduces Grief) and Piṅgalā’s Nairāśya
स्नेहेन युक्तस्य न चास्ति मुक्ति- रिति स्वयम्भूर्भगवानुवाच । बुधाश्न निर्वाणपरा भवन्ति तस्मान्न कुर्यात् प्रियमप्रियं च,स्वयम्भू भगवान् ब्रह्माजीका कथन है कि जिसके मनमें आसक्ति है, उसकी कभी मुक्ति नहीं होती। आसक्तिशून्य ज्ञानी मनुष्य ही मोक्षको प्राप्त होते हैं; अतः मुमुक्षु पुरुषको चाहिये कि वह किसीका प्रिय अथवा अप्रिय न करे
snehena yuktasya na cāsti muktir iti svayambhūr bhagavān uvāca | budhāś ca nirvāṇaparā bhavanti tasmān na kuryāt priyaṃ apriyaṃ ca ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “The Blessed Self-born (Brahmā) has declared: ‘For one bound by attachment (sneha), there is no liberation.’ The wise, being intent on nirvāṇa, attain release; therefore a seeker of freedom should not act from personal liking or disliking—should not make anyone ‘dear’ or ‘hated’ in his conduct.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Attachment (sneha) is presented as a direct obstacle to liberation. The verse urges the aspirant to cultivate equanimity—avoiding conduct driven by personal preference or aversion (priya/apriya)—because the wise reach nirvāṇa by loosening such bonds.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and liberation, Yudhiṣṭhira cites an authoritative saying of Svayambhū (Brahmā). He uses it to summarize a practical rule for a mumukṣu (one seeking mokṣa): do not let attachment and bias govern one’s actions toward others.