Shloka 16
Doṣa-Parīkṣā and Guṇa-Viveka
Examination of Faults and Discernment of the Guṇas
यदा मनसि सा बुद्धिर्वर्तते5न्तरचारिणी । व्यवसायगुणोपेता तदा सम्पद्यते मन:,जब निश्चयात्मिका बुद्धि अन्तर्मुखी होकर हृदयमें स्थित होती है, तब मन विशुद्ध हो जाता है
yadā manasi sā buddhir vartate ’ntaracāriṇī | vyavasāya-guṇopetā tadā sampadyate manaḥ ||
بھیشم نے کہا—جب وہ اندر کی طرف چلنے والی، پختہ عزم کی صفت سے آراستہ بدھی من میں ٹھہر جاتی ہے، تب من درست طور پر سنبھل جاتا اور پاکیزہ ہو جاتا ہے۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that when buddhi (discriminative intellect) becomes inward-turned and firmly decisive (vyavasāya), it stabilizes and purifies the mind. Ethical living depends on this inner clarity: resolve guided by discernment restrains wavering and supports right conduct.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma is advising on inner discipline and the governance of the mind. He explains a psychological-ethical principle: the mind becomes refined when the intellect operates inwardly with steady determination.