Shloka 28

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.”

आत्मभावम्self-directed feeling/attachment (sense of 'mine')
आत्मभावम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मभाव
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
तथाthus; likewise
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
स्त्रीषुin/with regard to women
स्त्रीषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootस्त्री
FormFeminine, Locative, Plural
मुक्तम्freed; released
मुक्तम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमुक्त
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
एवindeed; just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
पुनःagain
पुनः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः
पुनःagain (repeatedly)
पुनः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः
यःwho
यः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पश्यतिsees; perceives
पश्यति:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
सदाalways
सदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसदा
युक्तःyoked; disciplined; in yoga
युक्तः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootयुक्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
यथावत्properly; as it truly is
यथावत्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथावत्
मुक्तःliberated; free
मुक्तः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमुक्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
एवindeed; only
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
सःhe; that person
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma

Educational Q&A

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.