Shloka 38
मनु-उपदेशः — भूत-उत्पत्ति, इन्द्रिय-निवृत्ति, तथा पर-स्वभाव-विवेकः
Manu’s Instruction on Elemental Origination, Sense-Withdrawal, and Discrimination of the Supreme Nature
सत्त्वक्षेत्रज््योरेतदन्तरं पश्य सूक्ष्मयो: । सृजते तु गुणानेक एको न सृजते गुणान्
sattva-kṣetrajñayor etad antaraṃ paśya sūkṣmayoḥ | sṛjate tu guṇān eka eko na sṛjate guṇān |
সত্ত্ব (মন-প্রকৃতি) ও ক্ষেত্রজ্ঞ (ক্ষেত্রের জ্ঞাতা)—এই দুই সূক্ষ্ম তত্ত্বের মধ্যে যে পার্থক্য, তা সূক্ষ্মভাবে দেখো। এক পক্ষ বহু গুণের সৃষ্টি করে; কিন্তু একমাত্র আত্মা গুণ সৃষ্টি করে না।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma distinguishes the guṇa-producing inner nature (sattva, as part of prakṛti/antahkaraṇa) from the kṣetrajña (Ātman), which is one, witnessing, and not a producer of qualities. Ethical implication: do not identify the Self with mental qualities; cultivate discernment and detachment.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on liberation-oriented dharma, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira by explaining subtle metaphysical categories—how the mind-nature generates guṇic modifications, while the Self remains distinct—guiding the listener toward discriminative knowledge (viveka).