Shloka 46
Śānti-parva 168: Śoka-nivṛtti-buddhi (The Cognition that Reduces Grief) and Piṅgalā’s Nairāśya
स्नेहेन युक्तस्य न चास्ति मुक्ति- रिति स्वयम्भूर्भगवानुवाच । बुधाश्न निर्वाणपरा भवन्ति तस्मान्न कुर्यात् प्रियमप्रियं च
snehena yuktasya na cāsti muktir iti svayambhūr bhagavān uvāca | budhāś ca nirvāṇaparā bhavanti tasmān na kuryāt priyaṃ apriyaṃ ca ||
Sang Mahasuci, Yang Lahir dari Diri-Nya (Brahmā), telah menyatakan: “Bagi yang terikat oleh sneha—kelekatan kasih—tiada pembebasan.” Orang bijak yang bertekad pada nirvāṇa-lah yang mencapai lepas; karena itu pencari kebebasan hendaknya tidak bertindak dari suka atau benci, tidak menjadikan siapa pun ‘terkasih’ atau ‘terbenci’ dalam perilakunya.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Attachment (sneha) is presented as a direct obstacle to liberation. The verse urges the aspirant to cultivate equanimity—avoiding conduct driven by personal preference or aversion (priya/apriya)—because the wise reach nirvāṇa by loosening such bonds.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and liberation, Yudhiṣṭhira cites an authoritative saying of Svayambhū (Brahmā). He uses it to summarize a practical rule for a mumukṣu (one seeking mokṣa): do not let attachment and bias govern one’s actions toward others.