Shloka 23

मृत्यु-काल-प्रबोधनम् (Instruction on Mortality, Time, and Truth) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 169

Devanagari script

लोष्टकाज्चनतुल्यार्था: सुहृत्सु दृढबुद्धय: । ये चरन्त्यभिमानानि सृष्टार्थमनुषज्धिण:

Transliteration

loṣṭa-kāñcana-tulyārthāḥ suhṛtsu dṛḍha-buddhayaḥ | ye caranty abhimānāni sṛṣṭārtham anuṣaj-dhiṇaḥ ||

Translation

Dijo Bhīṣma: Quienes son firmes en su entendimiento, y consideran un terrón de tierra y el oro como de igual valor, permanecen constantes y bien dispuestos entre los amigos. Recorren la vida sin aferrarse a la vanagloria, viviendo conforme al propósito por el cual los seres fueron puestos en el mundo—libres de apego posesivo y de orgullo.

Word by Word

• लोष्टकाः: clods (of earth)
• लोष्टकाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोष्टक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• काञ्चनतुल्यार्थाः: having value equal to gold
• काञ्चनतुल्यार्थाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन-तुल्य-अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सुहृत्सु: among friends / in friends
• सुहृत्सु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृत्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• दृढबुद्धयः: firm-minded (persons)
• दृढबुद्धयः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ-बुद्धि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ये: who
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• चरन्ति: conduct themselves / move about
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• अभिमानानि: pride(s) / self-conceit(s)
• अभिमानानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिमान
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• सृष्टार्थम्: the accomplished/fulfilled purpose (as if already created)
• सृष्टार्थम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सृष्ट-अर्थ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अनुषज्धिणः: clinging/attached (to it)
• अनुषज्धिणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुषज्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, क्विन् (present participial/adjectival formation, irregular/rare), Active (parasmai sense)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• loṣṭa (clod of earth)
• kāñcana (gold)
• suhṛt (friends)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises equanimity and inner steadiness: a wise person values gold and a clod alike, remains stable in relationships, and avoids ego-driven pride and possessiveness. Such detachment supports dharmic living and freedom from agitation caused by gain, loss, honor, or insult.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma after the war. Here he describes the marks of the steady-minded and ethically mature person—one who is not swayed by wealth and who does not act from abhimāna (ego), thereby living calmly and rightly in society.