Shloka 44
Śānti-parva 168: Śoka-nivṛtti-buddhi (The Cognition that Reduces Grief) and Piṅgalā’s Nairāśya
यो वै न पापे निरतो न पुण्ये नार्थ न धर्मे मनुजो न कामे । विमुक्तदोष: समलोष्टकाञज्चनो विमुच्यते दुःखसुखार्थसिद्धे:
yō vai na pāpe nirato na puṇye nārthe na dharme manujo na kāme | vimuktadoṣaḥ samaloṣṭakāñcano vimucyate duḥkhasukhārthasiddheḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira dit : Celui qui ne s’absorbe ni dans le péché ni dans le mérite, que ne pousse pas la quête des richesses, qui ne s’attache même pas au devoir religieux comme à un moyen, et qui ne se perd pas dans le désir des sens—délivré de toute faute—se trouve affranchi de ces accomplissements qui donnent plaisir et peine. Dans cet état de délivrance, il regarde une motte de terre et l’or d’un même regard.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Liberation is described as a state of radical non-attachment: one is not driven by sin, merit, wealth, ritualized duty pursued for gain, or sensual desire. When faults fall away, even extraordinary attainments that produce pleasure and pain no longer bind; the liberated person sees gold and a clod of earth as equal.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on peace and liberation, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a renunciant ideal: the marks of a freed person are inner purity, detachment from worldly aims, and equanimity toward value-laden objects like gold.