Jarā-Mṛtyu-anatikrama: Janaka–Pañcaśikha-saṃvāda
Aging and Death Cannot Be Overstepped
यो5हमज्ञानसम्मोहादज्ञया सम्प्रवृत्तवान् | ससज््याहं नि:ःसड़:ः स्थित: कालमिमं त्वहम्
yo ’ham ajñāna-sammohād ajñayā sampravṛttavān | sa-sajya-ahaṁ niḥsaṅgaḥ sthitaḥ kālam imaṁ tv aham ||
मी तर खरेतर आसक्तिरहित आहे; तरीही अज्ञान व मोहाच्या वशाने कर्मात प्रवृत्त झालो. अशा रीतीने अंतःकरणाने निरासक्त असूनही, इतका दीर्घ काळ मी या जड, आसक्ती निर्माण करणाऱ्या प्रकृतीत गुंतून राहिलो.
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Even one who is essentially unattached can appear bound and active when overpowered by ignorance and delusion; therefore liberation requires clear self-knowledge and vigilance against moha, not merely an outward posture of renunciation.
Vasiṣṭha reflects on his own condition: despite his inner freedom (niḥsaṅgatva), he admits that ignorance propelled him into prolonged involvement with binding material nature, illustrating how delusion can sustain worldly entanglement over time.