Shloka 23
Vimokṣa-niścaya: Pañcaśikha’s Analysis of Aggregates, Guṇas, and Tyāga (मोक्षनिर्णयः)
कामक्रोधौ प्रमादक्ष॒ लोभमोहौ भयं कलम: । विषादशोकावरतिर्मानदर्पावनार्यता
kāmakrodhau pramādakṣa lobhamohau bhayaṁ klamaḥ | viṣādaśokāvaratir mānadarpāvanāryatā ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Le désir et la colère, l’étourderie, l’avidité et l’illusion, la peur et l’épuisement ; l’abattement, le chagrin, l’absence de joie (le mécontentement), l’orgueil, l’arrogance et la grossièreté—tout cela doit être compris comme des effets issus de rajas et de tamas. Sur le plan éthique, ce sont des forces intérieures qui troublent la clarté, affaiblissent la maîtrise de soi et détournent l’homme d’un discernement stable et d’une conduite conforme au dharma.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma classifies disruptive mental states—such as desire, anger, greed, delusion, fear, fatigue, grief, pride, and arrogance—as products of rajas and tamas. The lesson is that recognizing these as guṇa-driven tendencies helps one restrain them and cultivate sattva, which supports clear judgment and dharmic behavior.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on conduct and inner discipline, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira about the guṇas. Here he lists the traits that arise from rajas and tamas, contrasting them (in the surrounding passage) with sattvic qualities that promote steadiness and ethical clarity.