Shloka 29
Jarā-Mṛtyu-anatikrama: Janaka–Pañcaśikha-saṃvāda
Aging and Death Cannot Be Overstepped
यो5हमज्ञानसम्मोहादज्ञया सम्प्रवृत्तवान् | ससज््याहं नि:ःसड़:ः स्थित: कालमिमं त्वहम्,“मैं जो कि आसक्तिसे सर्वथा रहित हूँ तो भी अज्ञान एवं मोहके वशीभूत होकर इतने समयतक इस आसक्तिमयी जड प्रकृतिके साथ रमता रहा
yo ’ham ajñāna-sammohād ajñayā sampravṛttavān | sa-sajya-ahaṁ niḥsaṅgaḥ sthitaḥ kālam imaṁ tv aham ||
Sinabi ni Vasiṣṭha: “Bagaman sa katotohanan ay malaya ako sa pagkapit, gayon pa man ay itinulak ako ng kamangmangan at pagkalito tungo sa pagkilos. Kaya, kahit sa loob ay hindi nakadikit, ginugol ko pa rin ang mahabang panahong ito na nakasangkot sa walang-buhay na likas na materyal na nagbubunga ng pagkapit.”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even one who is essentially unattached can appear bound and active when overpowered by ignorance and delusion; therefore liberation requires clear self-knowledge and vigilance against moha, not merely an outward posture of renunciation.
Vasiṣṭha reflects on his own condition: despite his inner freedom (niḥsaṅgatva), he admits that ignorance propelled him into prolonged involvement with binding material nature, illustrating how delusion can sustain worldly entanglement over time.