Shloka 9
Ātma-saṃyama-dharma: One-pointedness of Mind and Senses (शुक–व्यास संवादः)
निःस्तुतिर्निर्नमस्कार: परित्यज्य शुभाशुभे | अरण्ये विचरैकाकी येन केनचिदाशित:
niḥstutir nirnamaskāraḥ parityajya śubhāśubhe | araṇye vicarāikākī yena kenacid āśitaḥ || śukadeva, tvam api stuti-namaskārābhyāṃ pṛthak sthitvā śubhāśubha-karmāṇi parityajya yat kiñcid phala-mūlaṃ labhyeta tenaiva kṣudhāṃ nivārya vane ekākī vicarā ||
Wika ni Vyāsa: “O Śukadeva, maging malaya ka sa pagnanais ng papuri at sa gawi ng pagbibigay o pagtanggap ng pagpupugay. Iwaksi ang ‘mabuti’ at ‘masama’ bilang mga bagay na kinakapitan. Maglakad kang mag-isa sa gubat, nabubuhay sa anumang dumating—isang bunga o isang ugat—at kumain lamang ayon sa natamo. Sa gayon, O Śukadeva, mamuhay kang hiwalay sa pagsang-ayon ng lipunan at sa mga ritwal na paggalang, itakwil ang hatak ng merito at demerito, at tumahak sa ilang na may payak na sustenansiyang hatid ng pagkakataon.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
To cultivate radical detachment: do not live for social approval (praise, honor, ritual courtesies) and do not cling even to the polarity of merit and demerit as identity-making goals. Instead, adopt a simple, solitary life sustained by whatever comes, emphasizing inner freedom over external validation.
Vyāsa instructs Śukadeva in the discipline of renunciation. The counsel frames an ascetic ideal: leaving behind social transactions of respect and the moral bookkeeping of ‘good vs. bad’ as attachments, Śukadeva is urged to wander alone in the forest, living on naturally available food such as fruits and roots.