Shloka 21
Adhyāya 290: Sāṃkhya-vidhi, Deha-doṣa, Guṇa-vicāra, and Mokṣa-gati
Bhīṣma–Yudhiṣṭhira Dialogue
दुष्कृते सुकृते चापि न जन्तुर्नियतो भवेत् । नित्यं मनःसमाधाने प्रयतेत विचक्षण:,विद्वान् पुरुषको जीवनपर्यन्त पाप या पुण्यमें भी आसक्त न होकर अपने मनको परमात्माके ध्यानमें लगानेका प्रयत्न करना चाहिये
duṣkṛte sukṛte cāpi na jantur niyato bhavet | nityaṁ manaḥ-samādhāne prayateta vicakṣaṇaḥ ||
パラーシャラは言った。「生きとし生けるものは、不善によっても善によっても、取り返しのつかぬほど定められているわけではない。ゆえに識者は、常に心を深い観想に安住させるよう努めねばならぬ——罪にも、さらには功徳にさえ執着せず、内なる注意を至上の自己へと向けよ。」
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should not regard oneself as permanently determined by past sin or merit; instead, the wise should cultivate steady mental absorption and detachment, orienting the mind toward the Supreme Self rather than clinging to moral credit or guilt.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and liberation, the sage Parāśara delivers a reflective teaching: ethical action matters, yet liberation requires going beyond fixation on both demerit and merit through sustained inner concentration.