Shloka 19
Gautama’s Flight, the Enchanted Grove, and the Arrival of Rājadharma
Nāḍījaṅgha
धृतिर्नाम सुखे दुःखे यथा नाप्रोति विक्रियाम् ता भजेत सदा प्राज्ञो य इच्छेद् भूतिमात्मन:
dhṛtir nāma sukhe duḥkhe yathā nāpnoti vikriyām | tā bhajeta sadā prājño ya icched bhūtim ātmanaḥ ||
Bhishma bersabda: “Dhṛti (keteguhan) adalah keadaan ketika, di tengah suka dan duka, batin tidak mengalami guncangan atau perubahan. Karena itu, orang bijak yang menginginkan kesejahteraan dan kemajuan sejatinya hendaknya senantiasa menumbuhkan dhṛti ini.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dhṛti (steadfastness) is defined as maintaining inner stability—no mental agitation or distortion—when confronted with both happiness and sorrow; a person seeking true welfare should continually cultivate this quality.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to Yudhishthira, Bhishma is defining a key ethical-psychological virtue (dhṛti) and prescribing its constant practice as a foundation for personal well-being and righteous living.