Shloka 17
प्रतीप–गङ्गा संवादः तथा शंतनु–गङ्गा विवाहशर्तिः
Pratīpa and Gaṅgā; Śaṃtanu’s marriage condition
यदा भवति निर्दन्द्धो मुनिर्मॉनं समास्थित: । अथ लोकमिमं जित्वा लोक॑ विजयते परम्,जब ([वानप्रस्थ) मुनि सुख-दुःख, राग-द्वेष आदि द्वद्धोंसे रहित एवं भलीभाँति मौनावलम्बी हो जाता है, तब वह इस लोकको जीतकर परलोकपर भी विजय पाता है
yadā bhavati nirdvandvo munir maunaṃ samāsthitaḥ | atha lokam imaṃ jitvā lokaṃ vijayate param ||
When a sage becomes free from the pairs of opposites—pleasure and pain, attraction and aversion—and firmly abides in disciplined silence, then, having conquered this world (through self-mastery), he also attains victory in the higher world. The verse presents inner conquest as the ethical foundation for spiritual success beyond death.
अद्टक उवाच
Educational Q&A
True victory is inner: freedom from dualities (pleasure/pain, attachment/aversion) and steady restraint (mauna) constitute self-mastery. Such conquest of the mind is presented as the cause of success both in this life and in the higher, post-mortem spiritual state.
Aṣṭaka is speaking and articulates an ascetic ideal: the muni who becomes nirdvandva and established in mauna is said to 'conquer this world'—not politically, but through discipline and detachment—and thereby gains 'victory' in the higher world as well.