Shloka 20
Adhyāya 272: Vṛtrasya Dharmiṣṭhatā, Indrasya Mohaḥ, Vasiṣṭha-upadeśaḥ
Vṛtra’s dharmic stature; Indra’s disorientation; Vasiṣṭha’s counsel
शब्दे स्पर्शे तथा रूपे न च भावयते मन: । विमुच्यते तदा कामान्न च धर्म विमुडचति
śabde sparśe tathā rūpe na ca bhāvayate manaḥ | vimucyate tadā kāmān na ca dharmaṃ vimuhyati ||
ਜਦੋਂ ਮਨ ਸ਼ਬਦ, ਸਪਰਸ਼ ਅਤੇ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੱਗ ਕੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਚਿੰਤਨ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਦਾ, ਤਦ ਉਹ ਕਾਮਨਾਵਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਮੁਕਤ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਧਰਮ ਬਾਰੇ ਭ੍ਰਮਿਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Non-indulgent attention toward sense-objects (sound, touch, form) leads to release from kāma (craving), and that inner freedom prevents confusion about dharma; ethical clarity is presented as a fruit of self-mastery.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and the disciplines that support it; here he emphasizes mental withdrawal from sense-objects as the basis for overcoming desire and maintaining right discernment.