Shloka 20
असंतोषादिदोष-निरूपणम्
On the Faults of Discontent and the Discipline of Detachment
प्रज्ञाप्रासादमारुह्ु अशोचन् शोचतो जनान् | जगतीस्थानिवाद्रिस्थो मन्दबुद्धीनवेक्षते
prajñāprāsādam āruhya aśocan śocato janān | jagatīsthān ivādristho mandabuddhīn avekṣate ||
Celui qui est monté jusqu’au haut palais de la sagesse, sans chagrin, regarde ceux qui s’affligent. Tel l’homme debout sur un sommet, qui observe les êtres dans la plaine sans être ébranlé par leur condition, ainsi le sage voit les esprits obtus qui se lamentent, sans tomber lui-même dans la même douleur.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
True wisdom (prajñā) gives an elevated inner standpoint from which one can perceive others’ sorrow without being overwhelmed by it; ethical steadiness arises from clear understanding rather than emotional contagion.
Yudhiṣṭhira speaks in the Śānti Parva, using a mountain-top metaphor to describe the wise person’s perspective: the wise observe grieving people as one on a peak observes those on the plain, remaining inwardly unshaken.