Shloka 20
Jñāna-plava (The Raft of Knowledge): Svabhāva, Prajñā, and the Ascent to Ātmajñāna
यद् यदिच्छन्ति तत् तस्मादपि गच्छन्तु मानवा: । न मे निन्दाप्रशंसाभ्यां हासवृद्धी भविष्यत:
yad yad icchanti tat tasmād api gacchantu mānavāḥ | na me nindāpraśaṃsābhyāṃ hāsavṛddhī bhaviṣyataḥ ||
Let people take from blame and praise whatever they wish. For me, from either censure or commendation, there will arise neither loss nor increase—no diminution and no growth.
जैगीषव्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
To remain inwardly steady and unaffected by others’ praise or blame. People may use criticism or commendation for their own purposes, but the disciplined person does not let public opinion create either a sense of loss or a sense of gain.
Jaigiṣavya is presenting a reflective, ascetic-ethical stance typical of Śānti Parva instruction: he declares his independence from social approval and disapproval, emphasizing inner freedom and equanimity as marks of wisdom.