Shloka 17
अध्याय १७८ — प्राणवायुगतिः तथा शारीराग्निव्यवस्था
Adhyāya 178 — The courses of prāṇa-vāyu and the regulation of the bodily fire
नान्तं सर्वविधित्सानां गतपूर्वोडस्ति कश्नन । शरीरे जीविते चैव तृष्णा मन्दस्य वर्धते
nāntaṃ sarvavidhitsānāṃ gatapūrvo 'sti kaścana | śarīre jīvite caiva tṛṣṇā mandasya vardhate ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „Niemand hat je das Ende der unzähligen Bestrebungen erreicht, die aus dem Verlangen entspringen, jede Art von Gewinn zu erlangen. Doch beim Toren wachsen Anhaftung und Gier nach dem eigenen Körper, ja selbst nach dem Leben, nur weiter; dieser Durst kennt keine Sättigung und dehnt sich darum immerfort aus.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Desire for acquisition has no natural endpoint; the foolish person’s craving—especially attachment to body and life—keeps increasing. The ethical lesson is to cultivate discernment and restraint, recognizing that unchecked tṛṣṇā is inherently insatiable.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira. Here he warns against endless acquisitive striving and highlights how ignorance fuels growing attachment to bodily existence.