Shloka 35

Vyaktāvyakta-Viveka and Nivṛtti as Paramā Gati

Manifest–Unmanifest Discrimination and the Supreme Path of Withdrawal

Devanagari script

मन: सत्त्वगुणं प्राहु: सत्त्वमव्यक्तजं तथा । सर्वभूतात्मभूतस्थं तस्माद्‌ बुद्धोत बुद्धिमान्‌

Transliteration

manaḥ sattvaguṇaṃ prāhuḥ sattvam avyaktajaṃ tathā | sarvabhūtātma-bhūtasthaṃ tasmād buddho buddhi-mān (jānīyāt) ||

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „Man sagt, der Geist (manas) sei aus der Eigenschaft sattva gebildet, und sattva selbst entstehe aus dem Unmanifesten (Prakṛti). Darum soll der Erwachte und Unterscheidungskräftige den höchsten Herrn — das Selbst aller Wesen — als in allen Geschöpfen wohnend erkennen.“

Word by Word

• {'manaḥ': 'mind', 'sattva-guṇam': 'of the sattva quality

• characterized by clarity and luminosity', 'prāhuḥ': 'they say

• they declare', 'sattvam': 'sattva

• the principle/quality of purity and balance', 'avyakta-jam': 'born from the Unmanifest

• arising from avyakta (Prakṛti)', 'tathā': 'likewise

• in the same way', 'sarva-bhūta-ātma': 'the Self of all beings

• indwelling Self common to all', 'bhūta-stham': 'situated in beings

• abiding in creatures', 'tasmāt': 'therefore

• for that reason', 'buddhaḥ': 'awakened

• enlightened (one who has understood)', 'buddhi-mān': 'discerning

• endowed with understanding', 'jānīyāt (implied)': 'should know

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Parameshvara (Supreme Lord)
• Avyakta (the Unmanifest Prakriti)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Mind is described as sattva-dominant, sattva is traced back to the Unmanifest (avyakta/Prakṛti), and on this basis the wise are urged to perceive the Supreme as the inner Self present in all beings—an ethical vision that supports universal respect and non-harm.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on liberation-oriented wisdom: he links psychological principles (mind and sattva) to cosmological origin (avyakta) and concludes with a practical contemplative directive—recognize the indwelling Lord in every creature.