Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
प्रिये वाप्यप्रिये वापि दुर्बले बलवत्यपि । यस्य नास्ति सम॑ चक्षु: कि तस्मिन् मुक्तलक्षणम्
priye vāpyapriye vāpi durbale balavaty api | yasya nāsti samaṃ cakṣuḥ ki tasmin muktalakṣaṇam ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: Maging sa minamahal o sa di minamahal, maging sa mahina o maging sa malakas—kung ang tao’y walang pantay at walang-kinikilingang pagtanaw, anong tanda ng paglaya (mokṣa) ang masusumpungan sa kanya?
भीष्य उवाच
Liberation is incompatible with partiality: one who cannot maintain an even, unbiased vision in pleasure and displeasure, and toward weak and strong alike, lacks the true signs of inner freedom.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and inner discipline, Bhīṣma continues advising that spiritual maturity is measured by equanimity—how one sees and treats others across changing circumstances and power differences.