Shloka 41
Adhyātma–Adhibhūta–Adhidaivata Correspondences and the Triguṇa Lakṣaṇas (Śānti-parva 301)
विषयाणां च दौरात्म्यं विज्ञाय नृपते पुनः । गतासूनां च कौन्तेय देहान् दृष्टवा तथाशुभान्
viṣayāṇāṃ ca daurātmyaṃ vijñāya nṛpate punaḥ | gatāsūnāṃ ca kaunteya dehān dṛṣṭvā tathāśubhān ||
ビーシュマは言った。「王よ、音・触などの感官の対象が、心を汚し害する性質をもつことを、改めて悟りなさい。さらに、クンティの子よ、命が去った後の人の身体を見よ――いかに不吉で、いかに忌まわしいものとなるか。その洞察によって、執着から心を背けよ。快楽として追い求められるものは、ついには苦と朽ちゆく滅びに帰する。ゆえに、より高き善を求めよ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sense-objects (sound, touch, etc.) are intrinsically unreliable and lead to suffering; contemplating the repulsive decay of the body after death strengthens dispassion and supports a dharmic turn toward higher aims rather than sensual attachment.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to Yudhishthira, Bhishma urges the king to reflect on two realities—how sense pleasures corrupt and how the body becomes inauspicious after death—so that Yudhishthira may cultivate detachment and govern and live with clearer ethical priorities.