Shloka 22
प्रजापतयः देवगणाश्च दिशि-दिशि स्थिताः ऋषयः
Prajāpatis, Deva-Groups, and the Ṛṣis Assigned to the Directions
वाचा तु यत् कर्म करोति किंचिद् वाचैव सर्व समुपाश्चुते तत् । मनस्तु यत् कर्म करोति किज्चि- न््मनःस्थ एवायमुपाश्चुते तत्
vācā tu yat karma karoti kiñcid vācāiva sarvaṃ samupāśnute tat | manas tu yat karma karoti kiñcin manaḥstha evāyam upāśnute tat ||
毗湿摩说道：“人以言语所作之业，其全果亦由言语而受；人以意所作之业，此具身之我住于意中，唯以意而受其果。是故，业果随其所用之器而行；由此，摄护言语、调御其心，乃为达摩之要。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Actions bear fruit in accordance with their instrument: verbal deeds yield consequences through speech (praise, blame, trust, conflict), and mental deeds yield consequences within the mind (peace, guilt, agitation). Therefore, ethical discipline must include both truthful, restrained speech and purified intention.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and conduct, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira about the workings of karma. Here he distinguishes the results of actions performed by speech versus those performed mentally, emphasizing inner and outer restraint.