Shloka 12
Adhyāya 222 — ब्रह्मस्थानप्राप्ति: मोक्षधर्मे समत्वव्रतम्
Attaining the Brahman-Station: The Vow of Equanimity in Mokṣadharma
“आप रस्सियोंसे बाँधे गये, अपने राज्यसे भ्रष्ट हुए और शत्रुओंके वशमें पड़ गये थे। आप अपनी राज्यलक्ष्मीसे वंचित हो गये। प्रह्नमादजी! ऐसी शोचनीय स्थितिमें पड़ जानेपर भी आप शोक नहीं कर रहे हैं? ।।
prajñālābhāt tu daiteya utāho dhṛtimattayā | prahrāda susthirūpo 'si paśyan vyasanam ātmanaḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“噢，阿修罗（Daitya）王子普罗诃罗陀！你被绳索捆缚，失去王国，落入敌人掌中；本属于你的王者福运也被夺去。眼见灾厄临于自身，你怎能仍如此安定不动？这份从容，是得了真实智慧，还是凭着坚忍不拔的定力？”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadiness in adversity can arise from two closely related sources: insight (prajñā—seeing the nature of fortune and misfortune clearly) and fortitude (dhṛti—trained endurance and self-control). The verse frames equanimity as an ethical and spiritual achievement rather than mere lack of feeling.
Bhishma addresses Prahrāda, who has been captured and stripped of power, yet remains unshaken. Bhishma probes the cause of this unusual calm, asking whether it comes from realized knowledge or from resolute courage.