Shloka 5
Jñāna-plava (The Raft of Knowledge): Svabhāva, Prajñā, and the Ascent to Ātmajñāna
देवल उवाच न प्रीयसे वन्द्यमानो निन्द्यमानो न कुप्यसे । का ते प्रज्ञा कुतश्चैषा कि ते तस्था: परायणम्
devala uvāca na prīyase vandyamāno nindyāmāno na kupyase | kā te prajñā kutaś caiṣā kiṃ te tasyāḥ parāyaṇam ||
Devala berkata: “Ketika engkau dihormati, engkau tidak menjadi gembira; ketika dicela, engkau tidak menjadi marah. Kebijaksanaan apakah ini? Dari mana asalnya, dan apakah sandaran tertinggi serta landasan akhirnya?”
देवल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ideal of inner steadiness: a wise person remains even-minded, not elated by praise nor disturbed by blame. It points toward self-mastery and a deeper grounding of wisdom beyond social approval.
Devala addresses a sage whose calm does not change under honor or insult. He questions the source of this unusual composure and asks what ultimate principle or refuge supports such wisdom.