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 ||
Seorang yang mengetahui kebenaran hendaknya merasa puas ketika dihina, seakan meminum amerta; tetapi orang yang arif hendaknya selalu gentar terhadap kehormatan, seakan terhadap racun.
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.