Shloka 13
Prahlāda–Indra Saṃvāda: Kartṛtva (Agency) and Svabhāva (Nature) in the Causation of Karma
रजोभूतैर्हि करणै: कर्मणि प्रतिपद्यते । स दु:खं प्राप्प लोकेडस्मिन् नरकायोपपद्यते | तस्मान्मनोवाक्शरीरैराचरेद् धैर्यमात्मन:
rajobhūtair hi karaṇaiḥ karmaṇi pratipadyate | sa duḥkhaṃ prāpya loke 'smin narakāyopapadyate | tasmān manovākśarīrair ācaret dhairyam ātmanaḥ |
Bhīṣma disse: “Quando as faculdades de uma pessoa são movidas pela qualidade de rajas, ela é impelida a ações voltadas ao gozo dos sentidos. Tendo colhido sofrimento neste próprio mundo, por fim torna-se apta ao inferno. Portanto, por mente, fala e corpo, deve-se praticar uma conduta que traga firmeza e autocontrole a si mesmo.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Actions driven by rajas (passionate, restless desire) lead first to suffering in this life and ultimately to a hellish destiny; therefore one should discipline conduct through mind, speech, and body to cultivate dhairya—steadiness and self-control.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma continues advising the listener about the moral psychology of the guṇas: how rajas impels sense-oriented action and how restraint across thought, speech, and bodily behavior is the remedy.