Shloka 59
मनु-उपदेशः — भूत-उत्पत्ति, इन्द्रिय-निवृत्ति, तथा पर-स्वभाव-विवेकः
Manu’s Instruction on Elemental Origination, Sense-Withdrawal, and Discrimination of the Supreme Nature
एतद् बुद्ध्वा भवेद् बुद्धः किमन्यद् बुद्धलक्षणम् । विज्ञाय तद्धि मन्यन्ते कृतकृत्या मनीषिण:
etad buddhvā bhaved buddhaḥ kim anyad buddhalakṣaṇam | vijñāya tad dhi manyante kṛtakṛtyā manīṣiṇaḥ ||
Bhishma dit : «En comprenant cela, l’homme devient véritablement sage ; quel autre signe de sagesse pourrait-il y avoir ? Car les esprits discernants se tiennent pour accomplis dans le but de la vie précisément en réalisant cette vérité suprême.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True wisdom is defined by direct understanding/realization of the highest truth; once that is known, nothing further remains to be achieved, and the wise regard themselves as fully accomplished (kṛtakṛtya).
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma is instructing Yudhishthira on dharma and higher knowledge. Here he emphasizes that the decisive hallmark of a ‘buddha’ (awakened/wise person) is grasping the essential truth that brings inner completion.