Shloka 8
Adhyāya 164: Gautama as Guest; Kaśyapa’s Satkāra and the Fourfold Arthagati; Journey to Virūpākṣa
संकल्पाज्जायते काम: सेव्यमानो विवर्धते
saṅkalpāj jāyate kāmaḥ sevyamāno vivardhate
Wika ni Bhishma: Ang pagnanasa ay isinilang mula sa sinadyang pasiya; kapag ito’y pinagbigyan at paulit-ulit na hinabol, lalo itong lumalakas. Sa pananaw ng dharma, ang unang pasya ng isip ang binhi ng pagnanasa, at ang tuluy-tuloy na pagpapasasa ang nagiging tanikalang sumisira sa pagpipigil-sa-sarili at sa dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Desire does not appear randomly; it begins with saṅkalpa (a chosen mental resolve). If one keeps indulging that desire, it strengthens and becomes harder to restrain. Therefore, ethical discipline starts by guarding intention and limiting indulgence.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and inner discipline, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira about the psychology of desire: how it originates in the mind’s resolve and how repeated pursuit makes it grow, urging restraint and mindful governance of thought.