Shloka 11
Adhyāya 180: Jīva, Śarīra, and the Fire Analogy (भृगु–भरद्वाज संवादः)
स्वभावादेव संदृश्या वर्तमाना: प्रवृत्तय: । स्वभावनिरता: सर्वाः परितुष्येन्न केनचित्
svabhāvādeva saṃdṛśyā vartamānāḥ pravṛttayaḥ | svabhāvaniratāḥ sarvāḥ parituṣyenna kenacit ||
«Debe entenderse que, por la propia naturaleza—modelada por los actos anteriores—se manifiestan en el presente las inclinaciones que se ven en los seres. Todas las criaturas están absortas en su naturaleza y no tienen otro amparo. Comprendida esta verdad sutil, el hombre no debe quedar complacido y “satisfecho” en ninguna condición.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Present behavior arises from svabhāva, which is conditioned by past karma; therefore one should not excuse oneself or become complacent, but consciously strive to refine conduct in line with dharma.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to Yudhishthira, Bhishma explains how innate disposition governs people’s actions and urges a disciplined, non-complacent pursuit of ethical improvement.