Shloka 12
श्रेयो-धर्मकर्मविचारः
Inquiry into Śreyas, Dharma, and Karma
तद्वज्जातिशतैर्जीव: शुद्धातेडनेन कर्मणा । यत्नेन महता चैवाप्येकजातौ विशुद्धाते
tadvat jātiśatair jīvaḥ śuddhyate 'nena karmaṇā | yatnena mahatā caivāpy ekajātyāṃ viśuddhyate ||
त्याचप्रमाणे या साधना-रूप कर्माने जीव शेकडो जन्मांनंतर शुद्ध होतो; पण महान् व दृढ प्रयत्न केल्यास एका जन्मातच विशुद्ध होतो.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Purification of the self/mind may take many lifetimes through ordinary practice, but intense, sustained effort in the prescribed disciplines can bring thorough purification within a single lifetime.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising on inner discipline and moral-spiritual practice, emphasizing the transformative power of concentrated effort compared to slow progress across many births.