Shloka 15
दमप्रशंसा — Praise of Self-Restraint
Dama
कर्मणा बीजभूतेन चोद्यते यद् यदिन्द्रियम् । जायते तदहड्कारादू रागयुक्तेन चेतसा
karmaṇā bījabhūtena codyate yad yad indriyam | jāyate tad ahaṅkārād rāgayuktena cetasā ||
Sinabi ni Bhishma: Anumang kakayahang pandama na itinutulak sa pagkilos ng karma na naging binhi, yaon ding kakayahan ang nahahayag sa pamamagitan ng ahaṃkāra (pagka-ako) kapag ang isip ay nakaugnay sa pagkapit o pagnanasa. Sa ganitong paraan nahuhubog ang karanasang may katawan: ang nagdaang gawa ang nagbibigay ng binhing sanhi, at ang diwang “ako” at isip na pinatatakbo ng pagnanasa ang nagpapalabas ng tiyak na mga anyo ng pagdama at pakikisalamuha.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a causal chain: karmic impressions act as the seed, but the actual arising and functioning of the senses is mediated by egoism (ahaṅkāra) and a mind colored by attachment (rāga). Ethical progress therefore requires weakening attachment and ego-identification, not merely changing external actions.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and inner discipline, Bhīṣma explains to the listener how embodied experience is generated. He analyzes the psychological and karmic conditions by which particular sense-activities arise, framing it as guidance for self-control and liberation-oriented conduct.