Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 29
Adhyāya 223: Nāradasya Guṇa-kathana
Catalogue of Nārada’s Virtues
न हि दुःखेषु शोचन्ते न प्रह्ृष्यन्ति चर्थिषु । कृतप्रज्ञा ज्ञानतृप्ता: क्षान्ता: सन्तो मनीषिण:
na hi duḥkheṣu śocante na prahṛṣyanti cārthiṣu | kṛtaprajñā jñānatṛptāḥ kṣāntāḥ santaḥ manīṣiṇaḥ ||
Bhishma dit : «Les sages et les saints—dont l’intelligence est purifiée, rassasiés par la vraie connaissance et patients—ne s’affligent pas quand survient la souffrance, et ne s’enivrent pas de joie quand viennent la prospérité et les gains désirés.»
(भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches equanimity: a truly wise and virtuous person, fulfilled by knowledge and grounded in patience, remains steady—neither sinking into grief during suffering nor swelling with pride or excitement during prosperity.
In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and right conduct. Here he describes the hallmark of the wise (manīṣiṇaḥ): inner stability born of purified understanding and contentment in knowledge, shown by calmness amid both adversity and success.