Shloka 20
Adhyātma–Adhibhūta–Adhidaivata Correspondences and the Triguṇa Lakṣaṇas (Śānti-parva 301)
विष्णु क्रान्ते बले शक्रं कोष्ठे सक्ते तथानलम् । अप्सु देवीं समासक्तामपस्तेजसि संश्रिता:
viṣṇu-krānte bale śakraṁ koṣṭhe sakte tathānalam | apsu devīṁ samāsaktām apas-tejasi saṁśritāḥ ||
ভীষ্ম ক’লে— গতি আৰু আশ্ৰয় বিষ্ণুত প্ৰতিষ্ঠিত; বল শক্ৰত (ইন্দ্ৰত); উদৰত অগ্নি স্থিৰ। দেবী জলত সমাসক্ত, আৰু জল তেজত আশ্ৰিত।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a hierarchy of support among powers and elements: gods and forces function by resting in deeper principles. This encourages humility and dharmic insight—recognizing that personal or worldly power is derivative, sustained by a larger cosmic order.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on higher knowledge and right understanding. Here he presents a cosmological mapping—linking deities and elements—to show how creation is structured through mutual dependence and ultimate grounding.