Shloka 40
Adhyātma–Adhibhūta–Adhidaivata Correspondences and the Triguṇa Lakṣaṇas (Śānti-parva 301)
दुर्लभत्वं च मोक्षस्य विज्ञाय श्रुतिपूर्वकम् । बहुमानमलब्धेषु लब्धे मध्यस्थतां पुन:,वेद-वाक्योंके श्रवणद्वारा मुक्तिकी दुर्लभताको जानकर अभीष्ट वस्तुकी प्राप्ति न होनेपर भी उस परिस्थितिके प्रति अधिक आदर-बुद्धि रखे और मनोवांछित वस्तु प्राप्त हो जाय, तो भी उसकी ओरसे उदासीन ही रहे
durlabhatvaṃ ca mokṣasya vijñāya śrutipūrvakam | bahumānam alabdhēṣu labdhē madhyasthatāṃ punaḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Setelah memahami—berdasarkan pendengaran ajaran Śruti (Veda)—bahwa mokṣa sukar dicapai, seseorang hendaknya memelihara sikap hormat bahkan ketika tujuan yang diinginkan tidak diperoleh; dan ketika tujuan itu diperoleh pun, hendaknya ia kembali bersikap lepas dan seimbang terhadapnya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Recognize, through śruti-based understanding, that moksha is hard to attain; therefore cultivate reverent acceptance in non-attainment and maintain detachment even when attainment occurs—equanimity in both outcomes.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising on right conduct and inner discipline, emphasizing an attitude of even-mindedness toward worldly gains and losses as a support for the pursuit of liberation.