Shloka 7
Adhyāya 177: Pañca-mahābhūta-vicāra and Vṛkṣa-jīva-lakṣaṇa
Five Elements Inquiry and the Status of Plant Life
अकिंचन: परिपतन् सुखमास्वादयिष्यसि । अकिंचन: सुखं शेते समुत्तिषछति चैव ह
akiñcanaḥ paripatan sukham āsvādayiṣyasi | akiñcanaḥ sukhaṃ śete samuttiṣṭhati caiva ha ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Kung tatalikdan mo ang lahat at hindi mag-iipon ng pag-aari, kung gayon sa paglalagalag saanman ay ligaya lamang ang iyong matitikman. Sapagkat ang taong walang pag-aari—malaya sa pag-angkin at pag-iimbak—mahimbing matulog at magaan ding magising.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Happiness is closely tied to non-possessiveness: when one abandons hoarding and the sense of ‘mine,’ one becomes mentally unburdened and therefore experiences ease in all states—moving about, sleeping, and waking.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and peace, Bhīṣma continues advising on the ethics of renunciation. He praises the akiñcana (one without possessions) as naturally tranquil, presenting detachment as a practical means to freedom from anxiety.