Shloka 5
अव्यक्त–व्यक्त–कारणकार्यविवेकः
Avyakta–Vyakta and Causality: Discrimination of Field and Knower
अज्ञानतृप्तो विषयेष्ववगाढो न तृप्यते । अदृष्टवच्च भूतात्मा विषयेभ्यो निवर्तते
ajñāna-tṛpto viṣayeṣv avagāḍho na tṛpyate | adṛṣṭa-vac ca bhūtātmā viṣayebhyo nivartate ||
Bhīṣma dit : Celui qui ne trouve satisfaction que dans l’ignorance, fût-il plongé au plus profond des objets des sens, n’est jamais véritablement comblé. Et l’âme incarnée, comme poussée par une destinée invisible, se retourne encore vers ces mêmes objets—revenant sans cesse au cercle de l’expérience au lieu de se retirer vers la clarté et la retenue.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ignorance-based satisfaction is unstable: immersion in sense pleasures does not bring real contentment. Because of the unseen force of past karma and habitual craving, the embodied self keeps returning to objects of enjoyment, perpetuating bondage; true peace requires discernment and restraint.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and inner discipline, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira about the psychology of desire: the jīva, lacking right knowledge, remains caught in repeated pursuit of pleasures and thus circles within worldly experience rather than attaining lasting fulfillment.