Shloka 20
Jñāna-plava (The Raft of Knowledge): Svabhāva, Prajñā, and the Ascent to Ātmajñāna
यद् यदिच्छन्ति तत् तस्मादपि गच्छन्तु मानवा: । न मे निन्दाप्रशंसाभ्यां हासवृद्धी भविष्यत:,मनुष्य निन््दा और प्रशंसामेंसे जिससे जो-जो लाभ उठाना चाहते हों, उससे वह-वह लाभ उठा लें। उस निन्दा और प्रशंसासे न मेरी कोई हानि होगी, न लाभ
yad yad icchanti tat tasmād api gacchantu mānavāḥ | na me nindāpraśaṃsābhyāṃ hāsavṛddhī bhaviṣyataḥ ||
Biarlah manusia mengambil daripada celaan dan pujian apa sahaja yang mereka kehendaki. Bagiku, daripada kecaman atau sanjungan, tidak akan timbul kerugian mahupun pertambahan—tiada susut, tiada berkembang.
जैगीषव्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
To remain inwardly steady and unaffected by others’ praise or blame. People may use criticism or commendation for their own purposes, but the disciplined person does not let public opinion create either a sense of loss or a sense of gain.
Jaigiṣavya is presenting a reflective, ascetic-ethical stance typical of Śānti Parva instruction: he declares his independence from social approval and disapproval, emphasizing inner freedom and equanimity as marks of wisdom.