Shloka 29
Gaṇānāṃ Vṛttiḥ — On the Sustenance and Cohesion of Assemblies
Gaṇa-nīti
अकस्मात् क्रोधमोहाभ्यां लोभाद् वापि स्वभावजात्
akasmāt krodhamohābhyāṁ lobhād vāpi svabhāvajāt
Bhīṣma dit : «Parfois, sans avertissement—poussé par la colère et l’illusion, ou par l’avidité née de sa nature profondément ancrée—l’homme est saisi par une faute impulsive.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma highlights that ethical failure can arise abruptly from inner afflictions—anger, delusion, and greed—especially when these are rooted in one’s habitual nature; therefore vigilance and self-mastery are essential to dharma.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhīṣma is explaining to Yudhiṣṭhira how people can be suddenly propelled into harmful actions by powerful mental states and ingrained tendencies.