Shloka 6
Adhyāya 222 — ब्रह्मस्थानप्राप्ति: मोक्षधर्मे समत्वव्रतम्
Attaining the Brahman-Station: The Vow of Equanimity in Mokṣadharma
अक्रुध्यन्तमहृष्यन्तमप्रियेषु प्रियेषु च । काज्चने वाथ लोष्टे वा उभयो: समदर्शनम्
akrudhyantam ahṛṣyantam apriyeṣu priyeṣu ca | kāñcane vātha loṣṭe vā ubhayoḥ samadarśanam ||
Bhīṣma said: He was not angered when faced with what was unpleasant, nor elated when faced with what was pleasant. Whether it was gold or a mere clod of earth, he looked upon both with equal vision. Thus, steady in mind and free from attachment, he remained established in inner balance—an ethical mark of one who has mastered the impulses of aversion and craving.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches equanimity: a disciplined person is neither provoked by the unpleasant nor intoxicated by the pleasant, and regards wealth and worthlessness (gold and a clod) with the same steady, impartial vision.
In Bhīṣma’s discourse in the Śānti Parva, he describes the qualities of an exemplary, spiritually mature person—highlighting emotional steadiness and equal regard toward opposites such as pleasure/pain and gold/clod.