Shloka 12
श्रेयो-धर्मकर्मविचारः
Inquiry into Śreyas, Dharma, and Karma
तद्वज्जातिशतैर्जीव: शुद्धातेडनेन कर्मणा । यत्नेन महता चैवाप्येकजातौ विशुद्धाते,“जैसे सोनार बारंबार किये हुए अपने महान् प्रयत्नके द्वारा चाँदीको आगमें डालकर उसे शुद्ध करता है, उसी प्रकार जीव सैकड़ों जन्मोंमें अपने मनको शुद्ध कर पाता है; परंतु इस यज्ञ आदि और शम-दम आदि कर्मोंद्वारा यदि वह महान् प्रयत्न करे तो एक ही जन्ममें शुद्ध हो जाता है
tadvat jātiśatair jīvaḥ śuddhyate 'nena karmaṇā | yatnena mahatā caivāpy ekajātyāṃ viśuddhyate ||
Bhishma said: “In the same way, the living being becomes purified by this discipline only after hundreds of births. Yet, if one applies great and sustained effort, one can become purified within a single lifetime.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Purification of the self/mind may take many lifetimes through ordinary practice, but intense, sustained effort in the prescribed disciplines can bring thorough purification within a single lifetime.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising on inner discipline and moral-spiritual practice, emphasizing the transformative power of concentrated effort compared to slow progress across many births.