Shloka 21
Adhyāya 69: Strategic duels under Bhīṣma’s command
Virāṭa–Bhīṣma; Arjuna–Aśvatthāmā; Bhīma–Duryodhana; Abhimanyu–Lakṣmaṇa
“जो चराचरस्वरूप श्रीवत्सचिह्नभूषित उत्तम कान्तिसे सम्पन्न भगवान् पद्मनाभको नहीं जानता, उसे विद्वान् पुरुष तमोगुणी कहते हैं
yo carācarasvarūpaḥ śrīvatsacihnabhūṣita uttamakāntisampanno bhagavān padmanābhaṃ na jānāti, taṃ vidvān puruṣas tamoguṇinaṃ vadanti.
Bhīṣma sprach: Die Weisen erklären einen Menschen für von Dunkelheit (tamas) beherrscht, wenn er den Herrn Padmanābha nicht erkennt—ihn, dessen Gestalt alles Bewegte und Unbewegte durchdringt, der mit dem Zeichen Śrīvatsa geschmückt ist und in höchstem Glanz erstrahlt.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Failure to recognize the all-pervading Lord (Padmanabha), marked by Śrīvatsa and supreme radiance, is identified as tamasic ignorance—an inner darkness that blocks true discernment and dharmic orientation.
Bhishma is instructing by characterizing spiritual ignorance: he contrasts the wise perspective with the condition of one who does not know the Supreme Lord, labeling such a state as dominated by tamas.