Shloka 29
जनक–पराशर संवादः — वर्ण-गोत्र-धर्मविचारः
Janaka–Parāśara: Varṇa, Gotra, and Dharma Inquiry
तत्र यत् प्रीतिसंयुक्ते काये मनसि वा भवेत् | वर्तते सात्त्विको भाव इत्युपेक्षेत्र तत् तथा,ऐसी स्थितिमें शरीर अथवा मनके भीतर यदि कोई प्रसन्नताका भाव हो तो वह साच्चिक भाव है, ऐसा विचार करना चाहिये
tatra yat prītisaṃyukte kāye manasi vā bhavet | vartate sāttviko bhāva ity upekṣetra tat tathā ||
Bhishma said: “In that state, if within the body or within the mind there arises a feeling accompanied by gladness and contentment, one should recognize it as a sāttvika disposition (of sattva) and observe it with evenness, just so.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When a pleasant, contented feeling arises in body or mind, it should be understood as a sāttvika (lucid, balanced) state, and one should maintain upekṣā—steady, non-clinging observation—rather than becoming attached or excited by it.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on conduct and inner discipline, Bhishma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on how to assess mental states; here he identifies joy/contentment as a sign of sattva and recommends equanimity toward it.