Shloka 17
Vidyā–Avidyā and the Twenty-Fifth Principle
Sāṃkhya–Yoga Clarification
यक्षराक्षसगन्धर्वा: सिद्धाश्षान्ये दिवौकस: । संसिद्धास्तपसा तात ये चान्ये स्वर्गवासिन:
yakṣa-rākṣasa-gandharvāḥ siddhāś cānye divaukasaḥ | saṃsiddhās tapasā tāta ye cānye svarga-vāsinaḥ ||
পৰাশৰে ক’লে—বৎস! যক্ষ, ৰাক্ষস, গন্ধৰ্ব, সিদ্ধ আৰু অন্য দিৱ্যলোকবাসী—যিসকলে তপস্যাৰে সিদ্ধি লাভ কৰিছে, আৰু অন্য স্বৰ্গবাসী—সকলোৱে (ইয়াত) অন্তৰ্ভুক্ত।
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores a graded cosmic order in which various non-human and celestial classes exist, and highlights tapas (austerity/discipline) as a recognized means of spiritual ‘perfection’ (saṃsiddhi), even among heavenly residents.
Parāśara is enumerating categories of beings—Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Gandharvas, Siddhas, and other heaven-dwellers—broadening the scope of his discourse to include multiple celestial and semi-celestial communities, especially those said to be perfected through austerities.