Shloka 21
वह इससे तृप्त न होनेके कारण विवेकदृष्टिसे वैराग्यको ही ग्रहण करता है, बुद्धिरूप नेत्रके खुल जानेके कारण जब वह कामोपभोग, रस और गन्धमें अनुरक्त नहीं होता तथा शब्द, स्पर्श और रूपमें भी उसका चित्त नहीं फँसता, तब वह सब कामनाओंसे मुक्त हो जाता है और धर्मका त्याग नहीं करता ।। सर्वत्यागे च यतते दृष्टवा लोकं क्षयात्मकम् | ततो मोक्षाय यतते नानुपायादुपायत:,सम्पूर्ण लोकोंको नाशवान् समझकर वह सर्वस्वका मनसे त्याग कर देनेका यत्न करता है। तदनन्तर वह अयोग्य उपायसे नहीं किंतु योग्य उपायसे मोक्षके लिये यत्नशील हो जाता है। इस प्रकार धीरे-धीरे मनुष्यको वैराग्यकी प्राप्ति होनेपर वह पापकर्म तो छोड़ देता है और धर्मात्मा बन जाता है। तत्पश्चात् परम मोक्षको प्राप्त कर लेता है
bhīṣma uvāca | sa etena atṛptaḥ san viveka-dṛṣṭyā vairāgyam eva gṛhṇāti | buddhi-rūpa-netrasya prabodhāt yadā sa kāmopabhogeṣu rase gandhe ca nānurajyate, śabda-sparśa-rūpeṣu ca tasya cittaṁ na sajjate, tadā sa sarva-kāmebhyo mucyate na ca dharmaṁ tyajati || sarva-tyāge ca yatate dṛṣṭvā lokaṁ kṣayātmakam | tato mokṣāya yatate nānupāyād upāyataḥ ||
Bhishma said: When a person remains unsatisfied by worldly enjoyments, he takes up dispassion through the clear sight of discernment. Once the “eye” of intelligence has opened, he no longer clings to sensual indulgence—nor is he attached to taste and smell; and his mind does not get ensnared even by sound, touch, and form. Then he becomes free from all desires, yet he does not abandon dharma. Seeing all the worlds as perishable, he strives for the inner renunciation of everything; thereafter he exerts himself for liberation—not by unfit means, but by the proper means. Thus, as dispassion gradually arises, he gives up sinful action, becomes righteous, and finally attains the highest liberation.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dispassion born of discernment frees one from desire: when the intellect awakens, the mind stops clinging to the sense-objects (sound, touch, form, taste, smell). One should renounce inwardly, see the world as perishable, and pursue liberation through proper means—without abandoning dharma.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising on the path of liberation. He describes the psychological shift from dissatisfaction with pleasures to awakened discernment, leading to non-attachment, ethical steadiness, and finally the pursuit and attainment of moksha by right methods.