Shloka 23
कामद्रुम-रूपकः तथा शरीर-पुर-रूपकः
The Desire-Tree and the Body-as-City Metaphors
यच्च ते मनसि वर्तते परं यत्र चास्ति तव संशय: क्वचित् | श्रूयतामयमहं तवाग्रत: पुत्र कि हि कथयामि ते पुन:
vyāsa uvāca | yac ca te manasi vartate paraṁ yatra cāsti tava saṁśayaḥ kvacit | śrūyatām ayam ahaṁ tavāgrataḥ putra ki hi kathayāmi te punaḥ | praharṣaḥ prītir ānandaḥ sāmyaṁ svasthātmacittatā | akasmād yadi vā kasmād vartante sāttvikā guṇāḥ |
ヴィヤーサは言った。「汝の心において最上と見なすもの、またいずこにおいても疑いの残る事柄があるなら、それを問え。わが子よ、我が汝の前で語る言葉を聞け。言え、いかなる主題について、さらに我は汝を教えようか。激しい歓喜、愛情、悦楽、平等心、そして健やかに整った安定の心が起こるとき——それが突然であれ、何らかの因によるものであれ——それらはサットヴァ（清浄のグナ）より生じた徳であると知れ。」
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vyāsa identifies markers of sattva (purity/clarity): spontaneous or causally arising joy, affectionate contentment, inner bliss, equanimity, and a stable, healthy mind. These inner states are presented as ethical-psychological indicators of a sattvic disposition.
Vyāsa invites his interlocutor (addressed as ‘son’) to voice whatever he considers most important and any lingering doubts. He then begins characterizing sattvic qualities, setting up further instruction on the guṇas and inner conduct.