प्रजापतयः देवगणाश्च दिशि-दिशि स्थिताः ऋषयः
Prajāpatis, Deva-Groups, and the Ṛṣis Assigned to the Directions
वाचा तु यत् कर्म करोति किंचिद् वाचैव सर्व समुपाश्चुते तत् । मनस्तु यत् कर्म करोति किज्चि- न््मनःस्थ एवायमुपाश्चुते तत्,मनुष्य वाणीद्वारा जो कोई कर्म करता है, उसका सारा फल वह वाणीद्वारा ही भोगता है और मनसे जो कुछ कर्म करता है, उसका फल यह जीवात्मा मनके साथ हुआ मनसे ही भोगता है
vācā tu yat karma karoti kiñcid vācāiva sarvaṃ samupāśnute tat | manas tu yat karma karoti kiñcin manaḥstha evāyam upāśnute tat ||
Apa pun perbuatan yang dilakukan seseorang melalui ucapan, seluruh hasilnya ia alami melalui ucapan itu sendiri. Dan apa pun perbuatan yang dilakukan melalui batin (manas), sang diri yang berjasad mengalami hasilnya dengan tetap berada dalam batin—melalui batin semata. Karena itu, pengendalian tutur kata dan penguasaan pikiran menjadi pokok dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Actions bear fruit in accordance with their instrument: verbal deeds yield consequences through speech (praise, blame, trust, conflict), and mental deeds yield consequences within the mind (peace, guilt, agitation). Therefore, ethical discipline must include both truthful, restrained speech and purified intention.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and conduct, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira about the workings of karma. Here he distinguishes the results of actions performed by speech versus those performed mentally, emphasizing inner and outer restraint.