Shloka 18
Bhūta-guṇa-saṃkhyāna
Enumeration of the Properties of the Elements and Cognitive Faculties
एवमेव कृतप्रज्ञो न दोषैरविंषयां श्वरन् । असज्जमान: सर्वेषु कथंचन न लिप्यते
evam eva kṛtaprajño na doṣair aviṣayāṁś caran | asajjamānaḥ sarveṣu kathaṁcana na lipyate ||
So too, a person of accomplished, purified understanding—moving among sense-objects without being driven by them—does not become tainted by their faults. Because he remains unattached to all relations and possessions (such as wife, son, and the like), even while engaging with worldly matters he is not stained in any way by the defects that ordinarily cling to such enjoyments.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steady wisdom is shown by engaging with life without clinging: when one remains unattached, the defects of sense-enjoyments and relationships do not stain the mind.
Vyāsa states a general ethical principle in the Śānti Parva’s instruction: the truly wise person can move among worldly objects and relations while remaining inwardly free, and therefore remains undefiled.