Shloka 23
अध्याय १७८ — प्राणवायुगतिः तथा शारीराग्निव्यवस्था
Adhyāya 178 — The courses of prāṇa-vāyu and the regulation of the bodily fire
नूनं ते हृदयं काम वज़सारमयं दृढम् | यदनर्थशताविष्टं शतधा न विदीर्यते
nūnaṁ te hṛdayaṁ kāma vajrasāramayaṁ dṛḍham | yad anarthaśatāviṣṭaṁ śatadhā na vidīryate ||
แน่แท้ โอ กามะ! หทัยของเจ้าช่างแข็งกร้าว—มีแก่นเป็นวัชระ มั่นคงยิ่งนัก; เพราะแม้ถูกครอบงำด้วยความวิบัติและเหตุร้ายเป็นร้อย ๆ ก็ยังไม่แตกสลายเป็นร้อยเสี่ยง
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Desire is portrayed as extraordinarily hard and persistent: even when it brings repeated harm, it does not break or diminish easily. The ethical implication is the need for vigilance and self-mastery, since unchecked desire endures despite suffering and continues to drive unwholesome actions.
Bhīṣma, instructing on dharma in the Śānti Parva, addresses Kāma as a personified force. He marvels (with reproach) at desire’s stubborn resilience: though surrounded by countless harmful consequences, it remains unshattered—highlighting why desire is such a formidable obstacle to peace and right conduct.