Shloka 18
Saṃhāra-krama (The Sequence of Cosmic Dissolution) — Yājñavalkya’s Discourse
कर्मजैर्बन्धनैर्बद्धास्तद्वद् योगा: परंतप । अबला वै विनश्यन्ति मुच्यन्ते च बलान्विता:
karmajair bandhanair baddhās tadvad yogāḥ parantapa | abalā vai vinaśyanti mucyante ca balānvitāḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai pembakar musuh, mereka yang terikat oleh belenggu yang lahir daripada perbuatan mereka sendiri, demikian juga terikat oleh amalan disiplin (yoga) mereka. Yang lemah benar-benar binasa, sedangkan yang berkekuatan dilepaskan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bondage arises from karma, and even spiritual disciplines can feel like constraints; only those with inner strength—steadfastness, self-control, and resilience—can use discipline to transcend bondage and attain freedom, while the weak succumb to ruin.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and liberation. Here he contrasts weakness and strength in the context of karmic bondage and yogic practice, emphasizing that liberation requires sustained inner power rather than mere intention.