Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 15
Brāhmaṇa-kṛtya, Āśrama-niyama, and Dāna-prasaṃsā
Duties of the Brāhmaṇa, āśrama discipline, and praise of giving
न पण्डित: क्रुद्धयति नाभिपद्यते न चापि संसीदति न प्रहृष्यति । न चार्थकृच्छुव्यसनेषु शोचते स्थित: प्रकृत्या हिमवानिवाचल:
na paṇḍitaḥ kruddhyati nābhipadyate na cāpi saṃsīdati na prahṛṣyati | na cārthakṛcchra-vyasanēṣu śocati sthitaḥ prakṛtyā himavān ivācalaḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Ang tunay na marunong ay hindi sumisiklab sa galit, ni nagmamadaling pumasok sa pagkakapit. Hindi siya guguho sa dalamhati kapag dumarating ang di-nais, at hindi siya malalasing sa tuwa kapag nakamtan ang minamahal. Kahit sa gitna ng kakapusan at kapahamakan, hindi siya lulubog sa panaghoy; sa likas niyang pagkatao, nananatili siyang di-natitinag—matatag na gaya ng Himalaya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The mark of wisdom is inner steadiness: freedom from anger and impulsive attachment, and an even mind that neither collapses in adversity nor becomes over-elated in success—remaining firm like a mountain.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct. Here he describes the qualities of a truly wise person, using the Himālaya as an image of unwavering composure amid life’s gains and losses.