Shloka 4
Adhyāya 272: Vṛtrasya Dharmiṣṭhatā, Indrasya Mohaḥ, Vasiṣṭha-upadeśaḥ
Vṛtra’s dharmic stature; Indra’s disorientation; Vasiṣṭha’s counsel
ततस्तदर्थ यतते कर्म चारभते महत् | इष्टानां रूपगन्धानामभ्यासं च चिकीर्षति
tatas tadarthaṃ yatate karma cārabhate mahat | iṣṭānāṃ rūpagandhānām abhyāsaṃ ca cikīrṣati ||
Bhishma berkata: “Sesudah itu, demi objek yang menjadi keterikatannya, seseorang berusaha dan memulakan pekerjaan-pekerjaan besar. Dia mencari kenikmatan berulang-ulang dan terus tenggelam dalam rupa serta haruman yang disukainya—lalu ketergantungannya pada objek deria makin mendalam, dan rantai ketamakan yang menggerakkan perbuatan makin mengikat.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Attachment to sense-pleasures leads to striving and ever-larger actions aimed at securing the desired object; repeated indulgence (abhyāsa) strengthens craving and makes the mind more bound to sense-objects, undermining self-mastery and ethical steadiness.
In Bhishma’s instruction in the Shanti Parva, he describes the psychological sequence of desire: once attraction arises, a person exerts effort, undertakes major enterprises, and seeks repeated enjoyment of pleasing sensory experiences such as forms and fragrances.