Shloka 12

प्रजापतयः देवगणाश्च दिशि-दिशि स्थिताः ऋषयः

Prajāpatis, Deva-Groups, and the Ṛṣis Assigned to the Directions

Devanagari script

कामात्मकाश्छन्दसि कर्मयोगा एभिविंमुक्त: परमश्नुवीत | नानाविधे कर्मपथे सुखार्थी नर: प्रवृत्तो न परं प्रयाति,वेदमें जो कर्मोंके प्रयोग बताये गये हैं, वे प्रायः सकामभावसे युक्त हैं। जो इन कामनाओंसे मुक्त होता है, वही परमात्माको पा सकता है। नाना प्रकारके कर्ममार्गमें सुखकी इच्छा रखकर प्रवृत्त होनेवाला मनुष्य परमात्माको प्राप्त नहीं होता

Transliteration

Bhīṣma uvāca: kāmātmakāś chandasī karmayogā ebhir vimuktaḥ param aśnuvīta | nānāvīdhe karmapathe sukhārthī naraḥ pravṛtto na paraṃ prayāti ||

Translation

ビーシュマは語った。ヴェーダに説かれる祭式の行法は、その多くが果報への欲に駆られている。その渇愛から解き放たれた者のみが、至上に到達しうる。快楽と報いを求めて多様な行為の道に奔走する者は、最高の実在に至らない。

Word by Word

कामात्मकाश्having desire as their nature; desire-motivated

छन्दसिin the Veda

कर्मयोगाःapplications/paths of action (ritual-action disciplines)

एभिःby these

विमुक्तःfreed (released)

परम्the Supreme (highest state)

अश्नुवीतmay attain

नाना-विधेin the manifold/various

कर्मपथेin the path of action

सुखार्थीseeking pleasure (for the sake of happiness)

नरःa man

प्रवृत्तःengaged; set in motion; active

नnot

परम्the Supreme (highest goal)

प्रयातिgoes; reaches

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Veda (Chandas)

Param/Paramātman (the Supreme)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Actions prescribed in the Vedas often become desire-driven when pursued for rewards; liberation requires freedom from craving. Seeking pleasure through diverse forms of action keeps one from attaining the Supreme.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira on the highest good, contrasting desire-motivated ritual action with the detachment necessary for realizing the Supreme.