Shloka 12
श्रेयो-धर्मकर्मविचारः
Inquiry into Śreyas, Dharma, and Karma
तद्वज्जातिशतैर्जीव: शुद्धातेडनेन कर्मणा । यत्नेन महता चैवाप्येकजातौ विशुद्धाते
tadvat jātiśatair jīvaḥ śuddhyate 'nena karmaṇā | yatnena mahatā caivāpy ekajātyāṃ viśuddhyate ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Cũng như thế, chúng sinh chỉ được thanh tịnh nhờ kỷ luật này sau hàng trăm kiếp. Nhưng nếu đem hết sức lực mà tinh tấn bền bỉ, thì có thể thanh tịnh ngay trong một đời.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Purification of the self/mind may take many lifetimes through ordinary practice, but intense, sustained effort in the prescribed disciplines can bring thorough purification within a single lifetime.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising on inner discipline and moral-spiritual practice, emphasizing the transformative power of concentrated effort compared to slow progress across many births.