Adhyāya 159 — Dāna–Dakṣiṇā, Āpaddharma Measures, and Prāyaścitta Classifications
रसवेगश्न दुर्वार्य: श्रोत्रवेगश्न॒ दुःसह: । कुत्सा विकत्था मात्सर्य पापं दुष्करकारिता
rasavegaś ca durvāryaḥ śrotravegaś ca duḥsahaḥ | kutsā vikatthā mātsaryaṁ pāpaṁ duṣkarakāritā ||
Bhīṣma dit : « La poussée du goût est difficile à réfréner, et la poussée de ce que l’oreille entend est difficile à supporter. Mépris, étalage fanfaron, envie, penchant au péché, et tendance à se précipiter vers des actes pénibles et nuisibles : telles sont des forces intérieures qui troublent l’homme et l’éloignent de la conduite juste. »
भीष्म उवाच
Bhīṣma highlights how unchecked sensory impulses—especially craving for taste and being swayed by what one hears—combine with contempt, boasting, envy, and sinfulness to push a person into harmful actions; therefore restraint and ethical vigilance are essential for dharma.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous living after the war, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira by listing inner impulses and vices that obstruct moral steadiness and lead to wrongdoing.