Shloka 16
अध्याय २२० — बलिवासवसंवादः
Bali–Vāsava Dialogue on Kāla and Steadfastness
न हृष्यति महत्यर्थे व्यसने च न शोचति । स वै परिमितप्रज्ञ: स दान्तो द्विज उच्यते
na hṛṣyati mahāty arthe vyasane ca na śocati | sa vai parimitaprajñaḥ sa dānto dvija ucyate ||
Bhīṣma bersabda: Sesiapa yang tidak melambung gembira apabila kekayaan atau kejayaan besar datang, dan tidak pula berdukacita apabila kesusahan menimpa—dialah yang disebut dvija (dvija) yang berakal terukur dan telah menundukkan inderanya. Ajaran ini memuji keteguhan batin: kematangan etika bukan pada apa yang diperoleh atau hilang, tetapi pada minda yang seimbang, berdisiplin dalam senang mahupun susah.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True refinement is equanimity: do not become intoxicated by great gains, and do not collapse into sorrow in misfortune. Such balance indicates measured wisdom (parimitaprajñā) and sense-mastery (dānta), which Bhīṣma presents as marks of a truly noble ‘dvija’ in conduct.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct after the war. Here he defines a hallmark of the disciplined person: steadiness of mind amid prosperity and adversity.