Shloka 12
प्रजापतयः देवगणाश्च दिशि-दिशि स्थिताः ऋषयः
Prajāpatis, Deva-Groups, and the Ṛṣis Assigned to the Directions
कामात्मकाश्छन्दसि कर्मयोगा एभिविंमुक्त: परमश्नुवीत | नानाविधे कर्मपथे सुखार्थी नर: प्रवृत्तो न परं प्रयाति
Bhīṣma uvāca: kāmātmakāś chandasī karmayogā ebhir vimuktaḥ param aśnuvīta | nānāvīdhe karmapathe sukhārthī naraḥ pravṛtto na paraṃ prayāti ||
Bhishma sprach: Die in den Veden gelehrten rituellen Disziplinen sind zumeist vom Verlangen nach Früchten getrieben. Nur wer sich von solchen Begierden löst, kann das Höchste erlangen. Wer sich auf den vielen Pfaden des Handelns abmüht, nach Lust und Lohn verlangend, erreicht die höchste Wirklichkeit nicht.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Actions prescribed in the Vedas often become desire-driven when pursued for rewards; liberation requires freedom from craving. Seeking pleasure through diverse forms of action keeps one from attaining the Supreme.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on the highest good, contrasting desire-motivated ritual action with the detachment necessary for realizing the Supreme.