Shloka 22
पुरुषे तिष्ठती बुद्धिस्त्रिषु भावेषु वर्तते । कदाचिल्लभते प्रीतिं कदाचिदपि शोचति,साक्षी आत्माके आश्रित रहनेवाली बुद्धि सात्चिक, राजस और तामस तीन भावोंमें (जो सुख-दुःख और मोहरूप हैं) स्थित होती है, इसीलिये कभी (सत्त्वगुणका उद्रेक होनेपर) उसे आनन्द प्राप्त होता है और कभी (रजोगुणकी अधिकता होनेपर) वह दुःख- शोकका अनुभव करती है
puruṣe tiṣṭhatī buddhis triṣu bhāveṣu vartate | kadācil labhate prītiṁ kadācid api śocati |
पुरुषे तिष्ठती बुद्धिस्त्रिषु भावेषु वर्तते । कदाचिल्लभते प्रीतिं कदाचिदपि शोचति ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The intellect, though situated in the person, is influenced by three inner modes (commonly understood as sattva, rajas, and tamas). Because these modes alternate in dominance, one sometimes experiences clarity and joy, and at other times agitation and grief. The ethical implication is to cultivate steadiness and discernment rather than being carried away by fluctuating mental states.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on peace and right living, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira about the workings of the inner instrument (mind/intellect). He explains why human experience oscillates between happiness and sorrow: the intellect operates under shifting dispositions, so emotional outcomes change accordingly.