Shloka 27
मोक्षोपाय-निर्णयः
Determination of the Means to Liberation
आत्मानमसमाधाय समाधित्सति यः परान् | विषयेष्विन्द्रियवशं मानवा: प्रहसन्ति तम्
ātmānam asamādhāya samādhitsati yaḥ parān | viṣayeṣv indriyavaśaṃ mānavāḥ prahasanti tam ||
Sinabi ni Humatsena: “Ang taong hindi pa naiaayos ang sarili, na siya mismo’y pabagu-bago at alipin ng mga pandama sa gitna ng mga bagay na nakaaakit—kapag nagtangka siyang magturo sa iba ng pagpipigil at wastong asal, pagtatawanan lamang siya ng mga tao.”
हुमत्सेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Moral instruction gains authority only when grounded in personal discipline. One who is ruled by sense-pleasures and lacks inner composure cannot credibly teach restraint or dharma; such preaching invites ridicule.
Humatsena is offering an ethical observation within the Shanti Parva’s didactic discourse: he contrasts outward preaching with inward mastery, warning that a person (especially a ruler) who cannot govern himself cannot effectively guide others.