Shloka 18
इन्द्र–बलि संवादः
The Dialogue of Indra and Bali on Fortune, Humility, and Restraint
सत्त्वं रजस्तमश्नेति देवासुरगुणान् विदु: । सत्त्वं देवगुणं विद्यादितरावासुरौ गुणौ
sattvaṃ rajas tamaś ceti devāsura-guṇān viduḥ | sattvaṃ deva-guṇaṃ vidyād itarau āsurau guṇau ||
Bhishma dit : Sattva, rajas et tamas sont compris comme des qualités associées aux dieux et aux asuras. Sache que sattva est la qualité divine ; les deux autres—rajas et tamas—sont des qualités asuriques. Sur le plan éthique, la clarté et l’harmonie élèvent la conduite, tandis que la passion et l’obscurité tendent à enchaîner l’être à des impulsions agitées ou nuisibles.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma classifies the three guṇas ethically: sattva is aligned with the divine (clarity, harmony, restraint), while rajas and tamas are aligned with the asuric (restless desire and deluding inertia). The implied guidance is to cultivate sattva to support dharmic conduct.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous living and inner discipline, Bhishma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira by explaining how inner qualities shape behavior, framing sattva as divine and the other two guṇas as asuric.