Shloka 104
नारद–शुक संवादः
Impermanence, Svabhāva, and Śuka’s Resolve for Yoga
आत्मा होवात्मनो होक: को<न्यस्तस्मात्परो भवेत् | एवं मन्यस्व सततमन्यथा मा विचिन्तय
ātmā hy ātmanaḥ bandhuḥ ko 'nyas tasmāt paro bhavet | evaṁ manyasva satatam anyathā mā vicintaya yudhiṣṭhira ||
Bhīṣma said: “The Self alone is one’s true ally; who could be more intimate or higher than That? Therefore, Yudhiṣṭhira, hold this conviction always, and let not your mind stray into contrary thoughts.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That one’s deepest and most reliable support is the Self; therefore one should cultivate unwavering inner conviction and not be shaken by contrary, distracting thoughts.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on principles of peace and righteous living after the war, emphasizing inner steadiness and spiritual self-reliance as foundations for dharma.