Shloka 15
दमप्रशंसा — Praise of Self-Restraint
Dama
कर्मणा बीजभूतेन चोद्यते यद् यदिन्द्रियम् । जायते तदहड्कारादू रागयुक्तेन चेतसा
karmaṇā bījabhūtena codyate yad yad indriyam | jāyate tad ahaṅkārād rāgayuktena cetasā ||
毗湿摩说：凡由已成种子的业力所驱使而发动的任何感官能力，当心与执著相连时，便通过我慢（ahaṃkāra）而显现为该感官。由此，具身经验被塑造：往昔之业提供因的种子，而“我”的观念与为贪爱所驱的心识，则生起特定的知觉与应对之方式。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a causal chain: karmic impressions act as the seed, but the actual arising and functioning of the senses is mediated by egoism (ahaṅkāra) and a mind colored by attachment (rāga). Ethical progress therefore requires weakening attachment and ego-identification, not merely changing external actions.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and inner discipline, Bhīṣma explains to the listener how embodied experience is generated. He analyzes the psychological and karmic conditions by which particular sense-activities arise, framing it as guidance for self-control and liberation-oriented conduct.