Shloka 9
जनक–सुलभा संवादः
Janaka–Sulabhā Dialogue on Mokṣa and Non-attachment
केवलं पज्चविंशं च चतुर्विशं न पश्यति । बुध्यमानो यदा55त्मानमन्यो5हमिति मन्यते
kevalaṁ pañcaviṁśaṁ ca caturviṁśaṁ na paśyati | budhyamāno yadātmānam anyo 'ham iti manyate ||
قال فاسيشثا: حين يبدأ المرء بالاستيقاظ إلى الفهم، لا يعود يُبصر المبدأين الرابع والعشرين والخامس والعشرين على حقيقتهما؛ بل يقع في توهّم: «أنا شخصٌ آخر (غير الذات).» وهكذا تنشأ المضاهاة الخاطئة وتضيع الجلاءات الأخلاقية، لأن «العارف» يخطئ فيحسب الذات هويةً غريبةً منفصلة.
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns that even when one begins to ‘wake up’ intellectually, one may still fail to discern the true distinction between the 24 principles (the psycho-physical field) and the 25th (the witnessing Self). The error is the thought “I am other,” i.e., misidentifying the Self as a separate ego-entity, which sustains ignorance and undermines right conduct.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction-oriented setting, Vasiṣṭha speaks as a teacher, using Sāṅkhya-style categories (24/25 tattvas) to diagnose a subtle confusion in seekers: partial awakening can still leave one trapped in dualistic self-notions, preventing direct insight into the Self.