Shloka 29
Jarā-Mṛtyu-anatikrama: Janaka–Pañcaśikha-saṃvāda
Aging and Death Cannot Be Overstepped
यो5हमज्ञानसम्मोहादज्ञया सम्प्रवृत्तवान् | ससज््याहं नि:ःसड़:ः स्थित: कालमिमं त्वहम्,“मैं जो कि आसक्तिसे सर्वथा रहित हूँ तो भी अज्ञान एवं मोहके वशीभूत होकर इतने समयतक इस आसक्तिमयी जड प्रकृतिके साथ रमता रहा
yo ’ham ajñāna-sammohād ajñayā sampravṛttavān | sa-sajya-ahaṁ niḥsaṅgaḥ sthitaḥ kālam imaṁ tv aham ||
योऽहमज्ञानसम्मोहादज्ञया सम्प्रवृत्तवान् । ससक्त्याहं निःसङ्गः स्थितः कालमिमं त्वहम् ॥
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.