Shloka 25
Adhyāya 180: Jīva, Śarīra, and the Fire Analogy (भृगु–भरद्वाज संवादः)
अचलमनिधनं शिवं विशोक॑ शुचिमतुल विदुषां मते प्रविष्टम् । अनभिमतमसेवितं विमूढै- ब्रीतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्नचरामि
acalam anidhanaṁ śivaṁ viśokaṁ śucim atulaṁ viduṣāṁ mate praviṣṭam | anabhimatam asevitaṁ vimūḍhair brītam idam ājagaraṁ śuciśnacarāmi ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Ang ganitong pamumuhay na ‘tulad ng sawa’ ay matatag at di matinag, malayo sa pagkabulok, mapalad, walang dalamhati, dalisay, walang kapantay, at sinasang-ayunan ng paghatol ng marurunong. Hindi ito kinagigiliwan kaya hindi isinasagawa ng mga nalilinlang. Sa laging dalisay na layon, sinusunod ko ang ajagara-vṛtti na ito—nabubuhay nang walang balisang paghahangad, nasisiyahan sa kusang dumarating.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse commends ājagara-vṛtti—steadfast, pure, non-anxious living marked by contentment and minimal striving. It is praised as auspicious and sorrowless, endorsed by the wise, yet neglected by the deluded who cannot value such restraint and inner purity.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma speaks as a teacher to the listener (Yudhiṣṭhira in context), describing and endorsing a disciplined, renunciant mode of life. He presents the ‘python’ metaphor to illustrate calm acceptance and freedom from restless pursuit.