Shloka 10
तुलाधार-उपदेशः
Tulādhāra’s Instruction to Jājali on Ahiṃsā and Abhaya-dāna
इष्टनिष्टविपत्ति शक्ष॒ व्यवसाय: समाधिता । संशय: प्रतिपत्तिश्न बुद्धे! पजचगुणान् विदु:,इष्ट और अनिष्ट वृत्तियोंका नाश, विचार, समाधान, संदेह और निश्चय--ये पाँच बुद्धिके गुण माने गये हैं
iṣṭāniṣṭavipattiś ca vyavasāyaḥ samādhitā | saṁśayaḥ pratipattiś ca buddheḥ pañca guṇān viduḥ ||
Bhishma bersabda: Para bijak mengetahui bahwa buddhi (akal budi) dikenali melalui lima sifat: kemampuan menaklukkan tarikan yang menyenangkan maupun tidak menyenangkan, tekad yang mantap, keteguhan terhimpun (samadhi/konsentrasi), keraguan yang menguji, dan penetapan yang jelas (keputusan akhir). Dalam laku etis, inilah alat batin untuk menahan dorongan reaktif, menimbang pilihan, dan menetapkan dharma dengan jernih.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma defines five marks of a well-functioning buddhi (intellect): it is not overthrown by attraction and aversion, it can decide firmly (vyavasāya), remain steady and collected (samādhitā), entertain doubt as a tool for examination (saṁśaya), and finally reach clear ascertainment (pratipatti). Together these enable ethical discernment and stable action aligned with dharma.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous living and inner governance after the war, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira about the workings of the mind and intellect. This verse lists the key qualities by which the intellect is recognized and trained for dharmic judgment.