Shloka 26
Adhyāya 180: Jīva, Śarīra, and the Fire Analogy (भृगु–भरद्वाज संवादः)
अचलितमतिरच्युत: स्वधर्मात् परिमितसंसरण: परावरज्ञ: । विगतभयकषायलो भमोहो व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि
acalita-matir acyutaḥ sva-dharmāt parimita-saṁsaraṇaḥ parāvara-jñaḥ | vigata-bhaya-kaṣāya-lobha-mohaḥ vratam idam ājagaraṁ śuciś carāmi ||
Pemahamanku teguh; aku tidak menyimpang dari dharmaku sendiri. Gerak dan urusan duniawiku menjadi terukur dan terkendali. Aku mengenali yang lebih luhur dan yang lebih rendah. Rasa takut, noda nafsu dan kebencian, keserakahan, dan delusi telah sirna dari hatiku; dengan kemurnian batin aku menjalankan laku ‘seperti piton’ ini.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches steadfastness in one’s own dharma combined with inner purification: restraining worldly activity, cultivating discernment of higher and lower aims, and removing fear, passion, greed, and delusion. The ‘ājagara-vrata’ symbolizes patient, minimal-striving endurance—remaining composed and pure while accepting what comes without restless pursuit.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and conduct, Bhishma speaks in the first person, describing the qualities of an ideal disciplined life. He presents himself (or the model renunciant) as practicing the ‘python-like vow,’ emphasizing restraint, clarity of values, and freedom from inner afflictions.