Shloka 38
धर्मस्य बहुद्वारत्वम् — Nārada’s Audience with Indra (Śānti-parva 340)
तस्मात् प्रसूतो यः कर्ता कारणं कार्यमेव च,“उस प्रद्यम्नसे जिसकी उत्पत्ति हुई है, वह (अहंकार ही) तन्मात्रा आदिका कर्ता, परम्परा-सम्बन्धसे महाभूतोंका कारण तथा महत्तत्त्वका कार्य है
tasmāt prasūto yaḥ kartā kāraṇaṁ kāryam eva ca
Dijo Bhīṣma: Por ello, aquello que nace de eso se vuelve el agente (el hacedor); y es a la vez causa y efecto: produce los elementos sutiles (tanmātra) y, mediante una sucesión ininterrumpida, sirve de causa de los grandes elementos (mahābhūta), mientras que permanece como efecto del principio de Mahat.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the principle of doership (kartṛtva), commonly identified with ahaṅkāra in Sāṅkhya-style analysis, as both cause and effect: it arises from Mahat and in turn generates the subtle elements and, by succession, the gross elements. Ethically, it cautions that personal ‘I am the doer’ is a conditioned product; recognizing this supports humility, restraint, and clearer discernment in action.
In the Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, Bhishma is teaching Yudhishthira about inner principles and the chain of creation. Here he explains how agency/ego arises and functions within a causal sequence, linking metaphysical doctrine to the practical aim of reducing ego-driven conduct.