Shloka 8
मनुरुवाच — इन्द्रिय-मनः-ज्ञान-क्रमः
Manu on the hierarchy of senses, mind, and knowledge
वेदवादाश्न निर्वत्ता: शान्ता ब्रह्मण्यवस्थिता: । सांख्ययोगौ तु यायुक्तौ मुनिभि: समदर्शिभि:,यदि जप करनेवाले साधकको अणिमा आदि एऐकश्वर्य प्राप्त हों और वह उनमें अनुरक्त हो जाय तो वह ही उसके लिये नरक है, वह उससे छुटकारा नहीं पाता है ।। रागेण जापको जप्यं कुरुते तत्र मोहितः । यत्रास्य राग: पतति तत्र तत्रोपपद्यते जो जापक मोहके वशीभूत हो विषयासक्तिपूर्वक जप करता है, वह जिस फलमें उसकी आसक्ति होती है, उसीके अनुरूप शरीरको प्राप्त होता है। इस प्रकार उसका पतन हो जाता है
Bhīṣma uvāca: vedavādāś ca nirvṛttāḥ śāntā brahmaṇy avasthitāḥ | sāṅkhyayogau tu yāyuktau munibhiḥ samadarśibhiḥ || rageṇa jāpako japyaṃ karute tatra mohitaḥ | yatrāsya rāgaḥ patati tatra tatropapadyate ||
वेदवादाश्च निर्वृत्ताः शान्ता ब्रह्मण्यवस्थिताः। सांख्ययोगौ तु यायुक्तौ मुनिभिः समदर्शिभिः॥ रागेण जापकः जप्यं कुरुते तत्र मोहितः। यत्रास्य रागः पतति तत्र तत्रोपपद्यते॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Spiritual practice must be free from craving for powers or results. When japa is driven by attachment (rāga), the mind fixes on a desired fruit and that attachment becomes the cause of continued rebirth; true progress is tranquility and establishment in Brahman, harmonizing knowledge (Sāṅkhya) and discipline (Yoga).
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising on liberation-oriented conduct. He contrasts sages who transcend mere Vedic argument and abide in Brahman with practitioners who, though performing japa, become entangled by desire for outcomes—thereby determining their next embodiment according to their attachment.