Shloka 35
श्रेयो-धर्मकर्मविचारः
Inquiry into Śreyas, Dharma, and Karma
गतिं च यां दर्शनमाह देवो गत्वा शुभं दर्शनमेव चापि । गति: पुनर्वर्णकृता प्रजानां वर्णस्तथा कालकृतोडसुरेन्द्र
gatiṃ ca yāṃ darśanam āha devo gatvā śubhaṃ darśanam eva cāpi | gatiḥ punar varṇakṛtā prajānāṃ varṇas tathā kālakṛto ’surendra ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ô seigneur des Asuras, la divinité—Indra, roi des dieux—ayant obtenu une vision de bon augure (la vraie clairvoyance), proclama cette doctrine même de la “vision” et de la “voie” (gati). Pourtant, les destinées des êtres sont de nouveau dites conditionnées par le varṇa (couleur/classe) : chacun obtient des fruits conformes à ce varṇa. Et ce varṇa lui-même est tenu pour façonné par le Temps (kāla).»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links ‘gati’ (destiny/attainment) with ‘darśana’ (true philosophical vision) while also stating that beings’ outcomes are described as varṇa-conditioned, and that varṇa itself is produced by Kāla (Time). Ethically, it frames human differences and results as arising from larger causal order rather than mere personal claim, urging humility and discernment.
Bhishma continues an instructive discourse and addresses an ‘Asurendra,’ reporting what a deity taught after attaining an auspicious insight: the doctrine of vision and the path, and how beings’ destinies are spoken of in relation to varṇa, with Time presented as the ultimate maker of that varṇa.