Shloka 12
Adhyāya 222 — ब्रह्मस्थानप्राप्ति: मोक्षधर्मे समत्वव्रतम्
Attaining the Brahman-Station: The Vow of Equanimity in Mokṣadharma
“आप रस्सियोंसे बाँधे गये, अपने राज्यसे भ्रष्ट हुए और शत्रुओंके वशमें पड़ गये थे। आप अपनी राज्यलक्ष्मीसे वंचित हो गये। प्रह्नमादजी! ऐसी शोचनीय स्थितिमें पड़ जानेपर भी आप शोक नहीं कर रहे हैं? ।।
prajñālābhāt tu daiteya utāho dhṛtimattayā | prahrāda susthirūpo 'si paśyan vyasanam ātmanaḥ ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Ó Prahrāda, príncipe dos Daitya! Foste amarrado com cordas, privado do teu reino e caíste sob o domínio dos inimigos; a fortuna régia que era tua foi-te cortada. Vendo tal calamidade sobre ti mesmo, como permaneces tão firme? Essa compostura nasce do ganho do verdadeiro entendimento, ou da força de uma resistência constante?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadiness in adversity can arise from two closely related sources: insight (prajñā—seeing the nature of fortune and misfortune clearly) and fortitude (dhṛti—trained endurance and self-control). The verse frames equanimity as an ethical and spiritual achievement rather than mere lack of feeling.
Bhishma addresses Prahrāda, who has been captured and stripped of power, yet remains unshaken. Bhishma probes the cause of this unusual calm, asking whether it comes from realized knowledge or from resolute courage.