Shloka 46
मनु-उपदेशः — भूत-उत्पत्ति, इन्द्रिय-निवृत्ति, तथा पर-स्वभाव-विवेकः
Manu’s Instruction on Elemental Origination, Sense-Withdrawal, and Discrimination of the Supreme Nature
त्यक्त्वा यः प्राकृतं कर्म नित्यमात्मरतिर्मुनि: । सर्वभूतात्मभूस्तस्मात् स गच्छेदुत्तमां गतिम्,जो सांसारिक कर्मोंका परित्याग करके सदा अपने-आपमें ही अनुरक्त रहता है, वह मननशील मुनि सम्पूर्ण भूतोंका आत्मा होकर परम गतिको प्राप्त होता है
tyaktvā yaḥ prākṛtaṃ karma nityam ātmaratir muniḥ | sarvabhūtātmabhūtas tasmāt sa gacched uttamāṃ gatim ||
Bhishma said: The contemplative sage who abandons merely worldly, instinct-driven action and remains constantly delighted in the Self becomes, as it were, the very Self of all beings; therefore he attains the highest destination. The ethical thrust is that liberation is reached not by compulsive worldly striving, but by inner renunciation, steady self-abidance, and universal identification that dissolves selfishness.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Renounce merely worldly, nature-driven action and abide steadily in the Self; through such inner absorption and universal identification (seeing oneself in all beings), one reaches the supreme goal—liberation.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and liberation, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira by praising the contemplative path: the sage who turns away from ordinary worldly pursuits and rests in Self-realization attains the highest state.