Shloka 1
दमप्रशंसा — Praise of Self-Restraint
Dama
ऑपनआक्रा बछ। अर: त्रयोदशाधिकदद्विशततमो< ध्याय: जीवोत्पत्तिका वर्णन कपडे दोषों और बन्धनोंसे मुक्त होनेके लिये विषयासक्तिके त्यागका उपदेश भीष्म उवाच रजसा साध्यते मोहस्तमसा भरतर्षभ । क्रोधलोभौ भयं दर्प एतेषां सादनाच्छुचि:
bhīṣma uvāca | rajasā sādhyate mohas tamasā bharatarṣabha | krodha-lobhau bhayaṁ darpa eteṣāṁ sādanāc chuciḥ ||
Bhishma bersabda: “Wahai yang terbaik di antara bangsa Bharata, delusi timbul karena rajas dan tamas. Dari sana lahir amarah dan keserakahan, ketakutan dan keangkuhan. Hanya dengan memusnahkan semuanya itu seseorang menjadi suci.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma links moral and psychological downfall to the guṇas: rajas and tamas generate delusion, which then produces anger, greed, fear, and pride. Purity (śaucam) is achieved by uprooting these inner faults rather than merely managing outward behavior.
In the Śānti Parva’s post-war instruction, Bhishma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and inner discipline. This verse frames the ethical program: renounce the mental causes of bondage by overcoming delusion and its emotional offspring.