Shloka 21
Jñāna-plava (The Raft of Knowledge): Svabhāva, Prajñā, and the Ascent to Ātmajñāna
अमृतस्येव संतृप्येदवमानस्य तत्त्ववित् । विषस्येवोद्विजेन्नित्यं सम्मानस्य विचक्षण:
amṛtasyeva saṃtṛpyed avamānasya tattvavit | viṣasyevodvijennityaṃ sammānasya vicakṣaṇaḥ ||
Celui qui connaît la vérité doit se contenter du mépris, comme s’il buvait du nectar ; mais l’homme avisé doit toujours se détourner des honneurs, comme d’un poison.
जैगीषव्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A truth-knower cultivates equanimity: he welcomes insult as a medicine against ego, but treats honor as dangerous because it can intoxicate the mind, inflate pride, and create dependence on external validation.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and inner discipline, Jaigīṣavya states a maxim for the wise: be content even when dishonored, and remain cautious of being honored, since praise can become a subtle bondage.