Shloka 31
जनक–पराशर संवादः — वर्ण-गोत्र-धर्मविचारः
Janaka–Parāśara: Varṇa, Gotra, and Dharma Inquiry
जब अपने लिये अप्रसन्नताका हेतु और दुःखयुक्त भाव अनुभवमें आये तब रजोगुणकी प्रवृत्ति हुई है--ऐसा अपने मनमें विचार करे तथा वैसे किसी कार्यका आरम्भ न करके उसकी ओरसे अपना ध्यान हटा ले ।।
atha yad moha-saṁyuktaṁ kāye manasi vā bhavet | apratarkyam avijñeyaṁ tamas tad upadhārayet ||
Bhishma dijo: «Cuando se advierte que surge una insatisfacción dolorosa, centrada en uno mismo, entiéndase que es el empuje de rajas; y, en vez de iniciar acción alguna bajo su influjo, retírese de ello la atención. Del mismo modo, si en el cuerpo o en la mente aparece un estado unido a la confusión, algo que no puede razonarse ni conocerse con claridad, reconózcase firmemente que eso es tamas».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
To practice inner discernment by identifying mental and bodily states through the lens of the guṇas: delusion that is irrational and obscure should be recognized as tamas, while painful, self-centered agitation should be recognized as rajas; one should avoid initiating actions under these influences and instead step back and regain clarity.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and self-governance, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on how to evaluate inner impulses. He gives a practical diagnostic rule: when delusion and obscurity arise in body or mind, label it tamas; when restless dissatisfaction and suffering-driven impulse arises, label it rajas and refrain from acting from it.