Shloka 4
Adhyāya 272: Vṛtrasya Dharmiṣṭhatā, Indrasya Mohaḥ, Vasiṣṭha-upadeśaḥ
Vṛtra’s dharmic stature; Indra’s disorientation; Vasiṣṭha’s counsel
ततस्तदर्थ यतते कर्म चारभते महत् | इष्टानां रूपगन्धानामभ्यासं च चिकीर्षति
tatas tadarthaṃ yatate karma cārabhate mahat | iṣṭānāṃ rūpagandhānām abhyāsaṃ ca cikīrṣati ||
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: “Pagkaraan, alang-alang sa mismong bagay na kinakapitan, nagsisikap ang tao at nagsisimula ng malalaking gawain. Hinahangad niyang malasap nang paulit-ulit at patuloy na magpakalunod sa mga kaaya-ayang anyo at halimuyak na nais niya—kaya lalong lumalalim ang pag-asa sa mga bagay ng pandama, at lalong tumitibay ang tanikala ng pagnanasa na nagtutulak sa pagkilos.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Attachment to sense-pleasures leads to striving and ever-larger actions aimed at securing the desired object; repeated indulgence (abhyāsa) strengthens craving and makes the mind more bound to sense-objects, undermining self-mastery and ethical steadiness.
In Bhishma’s instruction in the Shanti Parva, he describes the psychological sequence of desire: once attraction arises, a person exerts effort, undertakes major enterprises, and seeks repeated enjoyment of pleasing sensory experiences such as forms and fragrances.