Shloka 9
Śrī-nivāsa: Traits and Conditions for the Abode of Prosperity (श्री-निवासः)
यश्चात्मनि प्रार्थयते न किज्चिद् यश्न स्वभावोपहतान्तरात्मा । तेष्वल्पसंतोषपरेषु नित्य॑ नरेषु नाहं निवसामि सम्यक्
yaścātmani prārthayate na kiñcid yaś ca svabhāvopahatāntarātmā | teṣv alpa-santoṣa-pareṣu nityaṃ nareṣu nāhaṃ nivasāmi samyak ||
毗湿摩说：我并不真正住在那些对自身内在之我毫无所求之人心中；他们的内灵被习性之性所压制、所创伤。在那等人——恒常只趋向微薄满足者——我不能圆满安住。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should not live merely by habit and minimal comfort; a person must cultivate an awakened inner self that seeks higher aims. When the inner conscience is dulled by svabhāva (ingrained tendencies) and one settles for petty satisfaction, the presence of the higher principle (here voiced as “I”) is not fully manifest.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma is instructing on dharma and right conduct. In this verse he contrasts spiritually alert people with those whose inner life is dominated by habit and small desires, stating that he does not ‘dwell’ properly in such persons—i.e., true virtue or higher awareness does not take firm residence there.