Shloka 40
श्रेयो-धर्मकर्मविचारः
Inquiry into Śreyas, Dharma, and Karma
स तत्र संहारविसर्गमेक॑ स्वधर्मजैर्बन्धनै: क्लिश्यमान: । ततः स हारिद्रमुपैति वर्ण संहारविक्षेपशते व्यतीते
sa tatra saṁhāra-visargam ekaṁ svadharma-jair bandhanaiḥ kliśyamānaḥ | tataḥ sa hāridram upaiti varṇaṁ saṁhāra-vikṣepa-śate vyatīte ||
Doon, ang nilalang na may katawan ay dumaraan sa iisang siklo ng pagkalusaw at muling paglitaw, pinahihirapan ng mga gapos na isinilang mula sa sarili niyang dharma—mga tungkulin at likas na hilig na nagbubuklod. Pagkaraan, kapag lumipas na ang sandaang salit-salitang pag-urong at paglalabas (paglaho at paglikha), nararating niya ang kalagayang kulay dilaw-ginto (tawny).
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even what is called one’s own dharma can become a binding force when it hardens into attachment and karmic compulsion; the being is carried through repeated cycles of dissolution and re-manifestation until a further qualitative transformation is reached.
Bhīṣma describes a metaphysical process: an individual being, afflicted by bonds arising from its own nature and duties, passes through repeated alternations of cosmic withdrawal (saṁhāra) and projection (visarga/vikṣepa), and after many such cycles attains a distinct ‘hāridra’ state.