Shloka 15
Brāhmaṇa-kṛtya, Āśrama-niyama, and Dāna-prasaṃsā
Duties of the Brāhmaṇa, āśrama discipline, and praise of giving
न पण्डित: क्रुद्धयति नाभिपद्यते न चापि संसीदति न प्रहृष्यति । न चार्थकृच्छुव्यसनेषु शोचते स्थित: प्रकृत्या हिमवानिवाचल:
na paṇḍitaḥ kruddhyati nābhipadyate na cāpi saṃsīdati na prahṛṣyati | na cārthakṛcchra-vyasanēṣu śocati sthitaḥ prakṛtyā himavān ivācalaḥ ||
Bhishma dijo: «El verdaderamente sabio no estalla en ira ni se precipita hacia el apego. No se derrumba de pena cuando le sobreviene lo indeseado, ni se embriaga de júbilo al obtener lo amado. Aun en la estrechez económica y en la calamidad no se hunde en el lamento; por su propia naturaleza permanece inconmovible, firme como el Himalaya».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The mark of wisdom is inner steadiness: freedom from anger and impulsive attachment, and an even mind that neither collapses in adversity nor becomes over-elated in success—remaining firm like a mountain.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct. Here he describes the qualities of a truly wise person, using the Himālaya as an image of unwavering composure amid life’s gains and losses.