Shloka 23
Vimokṣa-niścaya: Pañcaśikha’s Analysis of Aggregates, Guṇas, and Tyāga (मोक्षनिर्णयः)
कामक्रोधौ प्रमादक्ष॒ लोभमोहौ भयं कलम: । विषादशोकावरतिर्मानदर्पावनार्यता
kāmakrodhau pramādakṣa lobhamohau bhayaṁ klamaḥ | viṣādaśokāvaratir mānadarpāvanāryatā ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «Deseo e ira, negligencia, codicia y engaño, miedo y agotamiento; abatimiento, duelo, falta de deleite (descontento), orgullo, arrogancia y grosería: todo ello debe entenderse como efectos que nacen de rajas y tamas. En términos éticos, son fuerzas interiores que perturban la claridad, debilitan el dominio de sí y apartan al hombre del discernimiento firme y de la conducta conforme al dharma.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma classifies disruptive mental states—such as desire, anger, greed, delusion, fear, fatigue, grief, pride, and arrogance—as products of rajas and tamas. The lesson is that recognizing these as guṇa-driven tendencies helps one restrain them and cultivate sattva, which supports clear judgment and dharmic behavior.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on conduct and inner discipline, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira about the guṇas. Here he lists the traits that arise from rajas and tamas, contrasting them (in the surrounding passage) with sattvic qualities that promote steadiness and ethical clarity.