Shloka 28
Śakra–Namuci-saṃvāda: Śoka-nivāraṇa and Daiva-vicāra
Indra and Namuci on grief, composure, and inevitability
असंतोष, संताप, शोक, लोभ और असहनशीलता--ये किसी कारणसे हों या अकारण -रजोगुणके चिह्न हैं |। अविवेकस्तथा मोह: प्रमाद: स्वप्नतन्द्रिता । कथंचिदपि वर्तन्ते विविधास्तामसा गुणा:
asantoṣaḥ santāpaḥ śoko lobhaś cāsahiṣṇutā—ete kāraṇato ’kāraṇato vā rajoguṇasya liṅgāni | avivekas tathā mohaḥ pramādaḥ svapna-tandritā | kathaṃcid api vartante vividhās tāmasā guṇāḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“不满足、内心煎迫、忧悲、贪欲与不容忍——无论有因无因——皆为罗阇（rajas）之标志。又如无辨识、迷妄、放逸，以及睡眠所致的昏沉倦怠：这些昏暗性（tāmasika，tamas）的倾向以种种方式不断显现，即便并无分明之由。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches diagnostic self-knowledge: discontent, distress, grief, greed, and intolerance indicate rajas, while non-discrimination, delusion, heedlessness, and torpor indicate tamas. By identifying these as guṇa-driven states, one can restrain them and cultivate steadier, more dharmic conduct.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhishma continues a didactic discussion on the guṇas (rajas and tamas), listing their observable psychological and ethical symptoms to guide the king’s governance of self and realm.