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 ||
পরাশর বললেন—হে বৎস! যক্ষ, রাক্ষস, গন্ধর্ব, সিদ্ধ এবং অন্যান্য দিব্যলোকবাসী—যাঁরা তপস্যায় সিদ্ধ হয়েছেন, আর যাঁরা অন্য স্বর্গবাসী—তাঁরা সকলেই (এখানে অন্তর্ভুক্ত)।
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.