Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 115
मानसतीर्थ-शौचप्रशंसा | Praise of the ‘Mental Tīrtha’ and the Marks of Purity
अमृताशी वसंस्तत्र स वितृष्ण: प्रमोदते । देवर्षिचरितं राजन् राजर्षिभिरनुछितम्
amṛtāśī vasaṃs tatra sa vitṛṣṇaḥ pramodate | devarṣicaritaṃ rājan rājarṣibhir anūcitam, yugakalpasahasrāṇi trīṇy āvasati vai sukham |
वहाँ वह अमृत-आहार पाकर, तृष्णारहित होकर आनन्दित रहता है। राजन्! वह राजर्षियों द्वारा उपदिष्ट देवर्षियों के चरित्र का श्रवण-मनन करता है; और श्रेष्ठ विमान पर आरूढ़ होकर मनोहर सुन्दरियों के साथ उन्मत्त-आनन्द में रमण करता हुआ, तीन हजार युगों और कल्पों तक वहाँ सुखपूर्वक निवास करता है।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links higher enjoyment and long-lasting heavenly residence with inner freedom from craving (vitṛṣṇatā) and with learning from the exemplary lives of seers as transmitted by wise king-sages—suggesting that refined joy is grounded in restraint and noble contemplation rather than acquisitive desire.
Bhishma describes the state of a meritorious person in a celestial realm: he lives on ambrosial nourishment, remains free of thirst/desire, delights there, listens to and reflects on the traditions about divine seers taught by royal sages, and enjoys life in a splendid celestial vehicle with beautiful companions for an immense span—three thousand yugas and kalpas.