Shloka 23
Adhyāya 177: Pañca-mahābhūta-vicāra and Vṛkṣa-jīva-lakṣaṇa
Five Elements Inquiry and the Status of Plant Life
इत्येतद्धास्तिनपुरे ब्राह्मणेनोपवर्णितम् । शम्पाकेन पुरा महां तस्मात् त्याग: परो मत:,इस प्रकार पूर्वकालमें शम्पाक नामक ब्राह्मणने हस्तिनापुरमें मुझसे त्यागकी महिमाका वर्णन किया था। अतः: त्याग ही सबसे श्रेष्ठ माना गया है
ity etad hāstinapure brāhmaṇenopavarṇitam | śampākena purā mahān tasmāt tyāgaḥ paro mataḥ ||
Thus, in ancient times, the great Brahmin Śampāka described to me in Hastināpura the glory of renunciation. Therefore, renunciation (tyāga) is regarded as the highest good.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse affirms that tyāga—renunciation or relinquishment of attachment and possessiveness—is the highest ethical ideal, presented as an authoritative conclusion drawn from earlier instruction.
Bhīṣma recalls an earlier occasion in Hastināpura when the Brahmin Śampāka expounded to him the greatness of renunciation; Bhīṣma then uses that remembered teaching to conclude that tyāga is supreme.