Guru’s Instruction on Dream, Mind, Guṇas, and Knowing Brahman
Svapna–Manas–Guṇa–Brahma-vicāra
ते वरेणाभिसम्पन्ना बलेन च मदेन च | नावबुध्यन्ति सम्मूढा विष्णुमव्यक्तदर्शनम्
te vareṇābhisampannā balena ca madena ca | nāvabudhyanti sammūḍhā viṣṇum avyaktadarśanam ||
ភីṣ្មៈបានមានព្រះវាចា៖ «ពួកគេបានទទួលពរ មានកម្លាំង ហើយស្រវឹងដោយអំណាចនិងអហങ്കារ; ដោយភាពវង្វេង ពួកគេមិនស្គាល់ព្រះវិṣṇុ ដែលទ្រង់មានសភាពពិតមើលមិនងាយឃើញឡើយ»។
भीष्म उवाच
Power and even divinely granted boons can become obstacles when they breed mada (pride). Such arrogance produces sammoha (deep delusion), preventing true recognition of Viṣṇu, whose reality is subtle and not grasped by outward vision alone.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs on dharma and right understanding. Here he remarks that certain beings, empowered by boons and physical might, become conceited and therefore fail to perceive the presence and supremacy of Viṣṇu.