Shloka 66
Adhyātma–Adhibhūta–Adhidaivata Correspondences and the Triguṇa Lakṣaṇas (Śānti-parva 301)
कर्मागाध॑ सत्यतीरं स्थितव्रतमरिंदम । हिंसाशीघ्रमहावेगं नानारससमाकरम्
karmāgādhaṃ satyatīraṃ sthitavrataṃ arindama | hiṃsāśīghramahāvegaṃ nānārasa-samākaraṃ śatrusūdana ||
भीष्म उवाच—शत्रुसूदन, कर्मभिरगाधीकृतोऽयं भवसागरः; सत्यं तस्य तीरम्; नियमव्रतादीनां स्थैर्यं तस्याधारः। हिंसा तस्य शीघ्रगामी महावेगः; नानारससमाकीर्णोऽयं महानिधिः। ततः सिद्धा यतयः प्रज्ञारूपिण्या नौकया दुःखजलपूर्णं तं घोरं संसारसागरं तरन्ति; संगत्यागं कृत्वा च निर्मलं व्योमवत् परं ब्रह्म प्रविशन्ति।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Saṃsāra is portrayed as an ocean whose depth is created by karma; truth and steadfast discipline provide a stable ‘shore,’ while violence is a powerful current that sweeps beings along. The way across is wisdom/realization, culminating in freedom from attachment and entry into the pure Supreme Brahman.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira using an extended ocean metaphor for worldly life. This verse highlights key features of that ocean—karma as its depth, truth as its bank, vows as steadiness, and violence as a fast current—within a broader description of how perfected ascetics cross it by the boat of wisdom.