Shloka 13
प्रजापतयः देवगणाश्च दिशि-दिशि स्थिताः ऋषयः
Prajāpatis, Deva-Groups, and the Ṛṣis Assigned to the Directions
मनुर॒ुवाच एभिवेिंमुक्त: परमाविवेश एतत् कृते कर्मविधि: प्रवृत्त: कामात्मकांश्छन्दति कर्मयोग एभिविंमुक्त: परमाददीत,मनुने कहा--मनुष्य इन कामनाओंसे मुक्त हो निष्काम-भावसे कर्मोंका अनुष्ठान करके परब्रह्म परमात्माको प्राप्त करे, इसी उद्देश्यसे कर्मोंका विधान किया है, वेदमें स्वर्ग आदिकी कामनासे जो योगादि कर्मोका विधान किया गया है, वह उन्हीं मनुष्योंको अपने जालमें फँसाता है, जिनका मन भोगोंमें आसक्त है। वास्तवमें इन कामनाओंसे दूर रहकर परमात्माको ही प्राप्त करनेका प्रयत्न करे (भगवत्प्राप्तिके लिये ही कर्म करे, क्षुद्र भोगोंके लिये नहीं)
bhīṣma uvāca — manur uvāca: ebhir vimuktaḥ paramam āviveśa; etat kṛte karmavidhīḥ pravṛttaḥ. kāmātmakān chandayati karmayogaḥ; ebhir vimuktaḥ paramād adīta.
Bhishma said: Manu declared that one who is freed from these desires enters the Supreme. For this very purpose the ordinance of action was set in motion. The discipline of action, when driven by desire, entices and binds the desire-minded; but the person released from such cravings attains the Highest. Therefore, one should perform works without attachment, aiming at realization of the Supreme Self rather than at petty enjoyments such as heaven and sense-pleasures.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Prescribed action (karma) is ultimately meant to lead beyond desire: when one performs duties without craving for rewards—especially without fixation on heaven or pleasures—one becomes free and attains the Supreme Self. Desire-driven karma, however, functions like a net that binds those attached to enjoyment.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and liberation, Bhishma cites Manu’s authority to explain why the system of prescribed works exists and how it should be approached: not as a bargain for rewards, but as a discipline culminating in realization of the Highest.