Shloka 22
प्रजापतयः देवगणाश्च दिशि-दिशि स्थिताः ऋषयः
Prajāpatis, Deva-Groups, and the Ṛṣis Assigned to the Directions
वाचा तु यत् कर्म करोति किंचिद् वाचैव सर्व समुपाश्चुते तत् । मनस्तु यत् कर्म करोति किज्चि- न््मनःस्थ एवायमुपाश्चुते तत्
vācā tu yat karma karoti kiñcid vācāiva sarvaṃ samupāśnute tat | manas tu yat karma karoti kiñcin manaḥstha evāyam upāśnute tat ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Qualquer ato que uma pessoa realize por meio da fala, ela experimenta todo o seu resultado pela própria fala. E qualquer ato que realize por meio da mente, este ser encarnado experimenta esse resultado permanecendo na mente—somente pela mente. Assim, os frutos da ação seguem o instrumento pelo qual se age; por isso, a contenção da palavra e o domínio da mente são essenciais ao dharma.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Actions bear fruit in accordance with their instrument: verbal deeds yield consequences through speech (praise, blame, trust, conflict), and mental deeds yield consequences within the mind (peace, guilt, agitation). Therefore, ethical discipline must include both truthful, restrained speech and purified intention.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and conduct, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira about the workings of karma. Here he distinguishes the results of actions performed by speech versus those performed mentally, emphasizing inner and outer restraint.