आत्मभावं तथा स्त्रीषु मुक्तमेव पुन: पुन: । यः पश्यति सदा युक्तो यथावन्मुक्त एव सः,“जो सदा योगयुक्त रहकर स्त्रियोंके प्रति अपने भाव (अनुराग या आसक्ति)-को निवृत्त हुआ ही देखता है अर्थात् जिसकी स्त्रियोंके प्रति भोग्यबुद्धि नहीं होती, वही वास्तवमें मुक्त है!
ātmabhāvaṃ tathā strīṣu muktam eva punaḥ punaḥ | yaḥ paśyati sadā yukto yathāvanmukta eva saḥ ||
Bhishma said: “He who, remaining constantly disciplined in yoga, repeatedly observes within himself that his attitude toward women is already released—free from craving and possessive attachment—such a person, seeing things as they truly are, is in fact liberated.”
भीष्म उवाच
Liberation is marked by inner freedom from craving and possessive, pleasure-seeking attitudes—here exemplified as the absence of objectifying desire toward women—maintained through steady yogic discipline and clear self-awareness.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and moksha, Bhishma continues advising on self-mastery: he defines a practical sign of true freedom as the mind’s settled detachment, verified repeatedly through honest inner observation.