Shloka 23
Prahlāda–Indra Saṃvāda: Kartṛtva (Agency) and Svabhāva (Nature) in the Causation of Karma
आहारनियमं चैव देशे काले च सात्विकम् । तत् परीक्ष्यानुवर्तेत तत्प्रवृत्त्यनुपूर्वकम्
āhāra-niyamaṃ caiva deśe kāle ca sāttvikam | tat parīkṣyānuvarteta tat-pravṛtty-anupūrvakam ||
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: Magtakda ng disiplin sa pagkain na sāttvika at angkop sa lugar at panahon. Matapos siyasatin ang pagkaing iyon—ang mga kabutihan at kapintasan—sundin ito nang paunti-unti, ayon sa wastong pagkakasunod, at tanggapin lamang ang nakatutulong sa pagsasanay at sa pagtatamo ng layuning espirituwal.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Regulate one’s diet with discernment: choose sāttvika food appropriate to place and season, evaluate its benefits and drawbacks, and adopt it gradually in a way that supports spiritual practice and yogic progress.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on right conduct and inner discipline, Bhīṣma advises the listener on practical ascetic guidelines—here, how to manage food intake as part of a broader regimen aimed at self-mastery and spiritual attainment.