Shloka 23
Vimokṣa-niścaya: Pañcaśikha’s Analysis of Aggregates, Guṇas, and Tyāga (मोक्षनिर्णयः)
कामक्रोधौ प्रमादक्ष॒ लोभमोहौ भयं कलम: । विषादशोकावरतिर्मानदर्पावनार्यता
kāmakrodhau pramādakṣa lobhamohau bhayaṁ klamaḥ | viṣādaśokāvaratir mānadarpāvanāryatā ||
ビーシュマは言った。「欲と怒り、放逸、貪りと迷妄、恐れと疲弊；落胆、悲嘆、喜びの欠如（不満）、慢心、傲慢、そして粗野—これらはラジャスとタマスから生じる作用であると理解すべきである。倫理の面から言えば、これらは明晰さを乱し、自制を弱め、人を確かな識別とダルマにかなう行いから引き離す内なる力である。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma classifies disruptive mental states—such as desire, anger, greed, delusion, fear, fatigue, grief, pride, and arrogance—as products of rajas and tamas. The lesson is that recognizing these as guṇa-driven tendencies helps one restrain them and cultivate sattva, which supports clear judgment and dharmic behavior.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on conduct and inner discipline, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira about the guṇas. Here he lists the traits that arise from rajas and tamas, contrasting them (in the surrounding passage) with sattvic qualities that promote steadiness and ethical clarity.