Shloka 66
Adhyātma–Adhibhūta–Adhidaivata Correspondences and the Triguṇa Lakṣaṇas (Śānti-parva 301)
कर्मागाध॑ सत्यतीरं स्थितव्रतमरिंदम । हिंसाशीघ्रमहावेगं नानारससमाकरम्
karmāgādhaṃ satyatīraṃ sthitavrataṃ arindama | hiṃsāśīghramahāvegaṃ nānārasa-samākaraṃ śatrusūdana ||
Bhīṣma bersabda: “Wahai penakluk musuh, samudra kelahiran‑kembali ini menjadi tak terduga oleh perbuatan; kebenaran adalah tepinya; keteguhan dalam tapa‑brata dan disiplin adalah landasannya. Kekerasan adalah arusnya yang cepat dan dahsyat, dan ia merupakan gudang luas aneka rasa serta pengalaman. Setelah itu para pertapa yang telah sempurna menyeberangi lautan mengerikan—penuh air duka—dengan perahu kebijaksanaan; dan setelah melampaui keterikatan, mereka memasuki Brahman Tertinggi yang bening, laksana langit.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Saṃsāra is portrayed as an ocean whose depth is created by karma; truth and steadfast discipline provide a stable ‘shore,’ while violence is a powerful current that sweeps beings along. The way across is wisdom/realization, culminating in freedom from attachment and entry into the pure Supreme Brahman.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira using an extended ocean metaphor for worldly life. This verse highlights key features of that ocean—karma as its depth, truth as its bank, vows as steadiness, and violence as a fast current—within a broader description of how perfected ascetics cross it by the boat of wisdom.