Shloka 4
Adhyāya 222 — ब्रह्मस्थानप्राप्ति: मोक्षधर्मे समत्वव्रतम्
Attaining the Brahman-Station: The Vow of Equanimity in Mokṣadharma
असक्तं धूतपाप्मानं कुले जातं बहुश्रुतम् । अस्तब्धमनहड्कारं सत्त्वस्थं समये रतम्
bhīṣma uvāca | asaktaṃ dhūtapāpmānaṃ kule jātaṃ bahuśrutam | astabdham anahaṅkāraṃ sattvasthaṃ samaye ratam ||
प्रह्लाद आसक्तिरहित होते; त्यांचे पाप धुतले गेले होते। ते कुलीन आणि बहुश्रुत होते। ते दर्प व अहंकाररहित होते। शुद्ध सत्त्वात स्थित राहून ते धर्ममर्यादा व सदाचार यांत रत असत।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True excellence is defined by inner qualities: detachment from sense-objects and results, purification of conduct, humility without ego, and steady commitment to dharmic discipline. Learning and noble birth are praised only when joined to self-restraint and purity (sattva).
Bhishma is describing Prahlada’s character as an exemplar of virtue—unattached, purified, learned, humble, and devoted to righteous conduct—setting the ethical tone for the surrounding instruction in Shanti Parva.