Shloka 20
जनक–पराशर संवादः — वर्ण-गोत्र-धर्मविचारः
Janaka–Parāśara: Varṇa, Gotra, and Dharma Inquiry
स्पर्शनं स्पर्शती स्पर्शान् बुद्धिर्विक्रियतेडसकृत् । यदा प्रार्थयते किज्चित् तदा भवति सा मनः
sparśanaṁ sparśatī sparśān buddhir vikriyate 'sakṛt | yadā prārthayate kiñcit tadā bhavati sā manaḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“触（sparśa）触及诸感官之触境，而辨识之智（buddhi）便屡屡变异、屡屡扰动。及至同一机能开始求取、欲求某物之时，它便成为‘意’（manas）——那发问、抉择、并追逐诸境的冲动。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse distinguishes buddhi (discriminative intellect) from manas (desiring mind): sensory contact repeatedly perturbs the intellect, and when the inner faculty starts craving or petitioning for an object, it functions as ‘mind’. Ethical self-mastery begins by noticing this shift from discernment to desire.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and inner discipline. Here he explains how sense-contact agitates the inner faculties and how desire converts clear discernment into restless mind, supporting teachings on restraint and renunciation.