Shloka 18
मोक्षधर्मः — स्नेहपाशच्छेदः
Mokṣa-dharma: Cutting the Bonds of Attachment
मध्यस्थ एव तिष्ठेत प्रशंसानिन्दयो: सम: । एतत् पवित्र परमं परिव्राजक आश्रमे,प्रशंसा और निन्दा-दोनोंमें समान भाव रखकर उदासीन ही रहना चाहिये। संन्यासाश्रममें इस प्रकारका आचरण परम पवित्र माना गया है
madhyastha eva tiṣṭhet praśaṃsānindayoḥ samaḥ | etat pavitraṃ paramaṃ parivrājakāśrame ||
Bhīṣma said: One should remain truly neutral, maintaining the same inner balance in both praise and blame. Such even-minded detachment is regarded as supremely purifying for one who lives the life of a wandering renunciant.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Maintain impartiality and inner balance—treating praise and blame alike—because such equanimity is considered the highest purifier for a renunciant living the parivrājaka (wandering) discipline.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma continues advising on the ideals of renunciation, prescribing the renunciant’s stance of neutrality and detachment amid social approval or condemnation.