Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 20

मोक्षधर्मः — स्नेहपाशच्छेदः

Mokṣa-dharma: Cutting the Bonds of Attachment

Devanagari script

वानप्रस्थगृहस्थाभ्यां न संसृज्येत कहिचित्‌ । अज्ञातलिप्सं लिप्सेत न चैनं हर्ष आविशेत्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | vānaprasthagṛhasthābhyāṃ na saṃsṛjyeta kahicit | ajñātalipsaṃ lipsen na cainaṃ harṣa āviśet |

Translation

ਵਾਨਪ੍ਰਸਥਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਗ੍ਰਿਹਸਥਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਘਨਿਸ਼ਠ ਸੰਗਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਨੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ। ਆਪਣੀ ਰੁਚੀ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਕੀਤੇ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਜੋ ਅਯਾਚਿਤ ਮਿਲੇ, ਉਸੇ ਦੀ ਹੀ ਇੱਛਾ ਰੱਖਣੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ; ਅਤੇ ਇੱਛਿਤ ਵਸਤੂ ਮਿਲ ਜਾਣ ‘ਤੇ ਵੀ ਮਨ ‘ਤੇ ਹਰਖ ਦਾ ਆਵੇਸ਼ ਨਹੀਂ ਛਾਉਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ।

Word by Word

• {'vānaprastha': 'a forest-dweller

• the third āśrama (stage of life) devoted to austerity and withdrawal', 'gṛhastha': 'a householder

• the second āśrama centered on family, livelihood, and social duties', 'abhyām': 'with/by the two (instrumental dual)', 'na': 'not', 'saṃsṛjyeta': 'should associate closely

• should mix/consort (optative, middle/passive sense)', 'kahicit (kvacit)': 'ever

• at any time', 'ajñāta': 'unknown

• unexpressed', 'lipsā': 'desire to obtain

• acquisitive wish', 'ajñātalipsam': 'desire that is not disclosed

• seeking without advertising one’s preference', 'lipset': 'should desire/seek (optative)', 'ca': 'and', 'enam': 'him/this person (i.e., the practitioner)', 'harṣa': 'elation

• joy', 'āviśet': 'should enter

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Vānaprastha
• Gṛhastha

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Cultivate restraint and non-attachment: avoid entangling social mixing that fuels desire, accept what comes without solicitation or display of preference, and remain even-minded without being carried away by elation when desired things are obtained.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and disciplined living, Bhishma advises the listener on conduct suited to a renunciant-leaning life: limiting associations and practicing equanimity in gain, emphasizing inner control over external circumstances.