Shloka 25
Jvarotpatti — The Origin and Distribution of Jvara
Fever
साच्चिकाश्वैव ये भावास्तथा तामसराजसा: । कर्मयुक्तान् प्रशंसन्ति सात्त्विकानितरांस्तथा,जो सात्विक, राजस और तामसभाव प्रसिद्ध हैं, वे ही जब भोग प्रदान करनेवाले कर्मोसे संयुक्त होते हैं, तब उन सात्विक आदि भावोंकी मनुष्य प्रशंसा करते हैं
sāttvikāś caiva ye bhāvās tathā tāmasarājasāḥ | karmayuktān praśaṃsanti sāttvikān itarāṃs tathā ||
Asita said: The well-known dispositions—sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic—are praised by people when they become joined to actions that bestow enjoyments and rewards; thus they commend these states, whether sattva or the others.
असित उवाच
Educational Q&A
People often value sattva, rajas, and tamas not by their inherent ethical quality, but by how effectively they are tied to karma that produces enjoyable results; praise tends to follow reward, not righteousness.
In Shanti Parva’s instructional discourse, Asita analyzes human tendencies and the three guṇas, pointing out how social approval commonly attaches to result-oriented action and enjoyment rather than to inner purity or true dharmic intent.