Shloka 1
Dharma-Pramāṇa-Vicāra: The Elusiveness of Dharma and the Limits of Rule-Lists
व्यासजी कहते हैं--पुत्र! योगशास्त्रके ज्ञाता शास्त्रोक्त कर्मोके द्वारा स्थूल शरीरसे निकले हुए सूक्ष्म स्वरूप जीवात्माको देखते हैं
vyāsa uvāca | hṛdi kāmadrumaś chitraḥ mohasaṃcaya-sambhavaḥ | krodha-māna-mahā-skandho vidhitsā-pariṣecanaḥ ||
Vyāsa dit : «Mon fils ! Ceux qui connaissent la science du yoga, par les actes prescrits par les śāstras, voient le jīvātman au subtil aspect, sorti du corps grossier (sthūla-śarīra). Ainsi, dans le Mahābhārata, au sein du Śānti Parva, dans la section Mokṣa-dharma, s’achève le chapitre 253, relatif aux questions successives de Śukadeva.» Vyāsa ajouta : «Dans le cœur se dresse un arbre merveilleux du désir, tel un arbre qui exauce les vœux, né de l’amas accumulé de l’illusion. Son grand tronc est colère et orgueil, et il est arrosé par l’élan d’agir et d’accomplir.»
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Desire is portrayed as an inner ‘tree’ rooted in delusion and strengthened by anger and pride; it grows because the mind keeps ‘watering’ it through the urge to act for gratification. Ethical discipline and yogic insight begin by recognizing these inner causes and withdrawing the nourishment that sustains craving.
Vyasa begins an allegorical instruction: he describes a marvelous ‘tree of desire’ located in the heart, explaining its origin (delusion), its structure (anger and pride as the trunk), and what sustains it (the impulse to pursue aims). This sets up the chapter’s broader teaching on cutting down this inner tree to attain liberation.