Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 15

जनक–पराशर संवादः — वर्ण-गोत्र-धर्मविचारः

Janaka–Parāśara: Varṇa, Gotra, and Dharma Inquiry

इन्द्रियाणि नरे पठच षष्ठं तु मन उच्यते । सप्तमीं बुद्धिमेवाहु: क्षेत्रज्ञ: पुनरष्टम:,मानव-शरीरमें पाँच ज्ञानेन्द्रियाँ और छठा मन बताया जाता है। बुद्धिको सातवीं और क्षेत्रञको आठवाँ कहते हैं

indriyāṇi nare pañca ṣaṣṭhaṃ tu mana ucyate | saptamīṃ buddhim evāhuḥ kṣetrajñaḥ punar aṣṭamaḥ ||

Bhishma erläutert die innere Verfassung des Menschen: Es gibt fünf Sinnesvermögen, und der Geist (manas) gilt als das sechste. Der unterscheidende Intellekt (buddhi) heißt das siebte, und der Kenner des Feldes (kṣetrajña)—das bewusste Selbst, das Körper und Funktionen bezeugt—wird als das achte verkündet. Der ethische Impuls besteht darin, das Selbst von den Werkzeugen der Wahrnehmung und Entscheidung zu unterscheiden, damit man die Sinne lenkt und mit Standhaftigkeit und Einsicht handelt.

इन्द्रियाणिthe sense-organs
इन्द्रियाणि:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootइन्द्रिय
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural
नरेin a man / in the human (body)
नरे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootनर
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
पञ्चfive
पञ्च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपञ्च
षष्ठम्the sixth
षष्ठम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootषष्ठ
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
मनःmind
मनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमनस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
उच्यतेis said / is called
उच्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPresent, Passive, Third, Singular
सप्तमीम्the seventh (as)
सप्तमीम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसप्तम
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
बुद्धिम्intellect
बुद्धिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootबुद्धि
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
एवindeed/just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
आहुःthey say
आहुः:
TypeVerb
Rootअह्
FormPerfect, Parasmaipada, Third, Plural
क्षेत्रज्ञःthe knower of the field (self)
क्षेत्रज्ञः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootक्षेत्रज्ञ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पुनःagain/further
पुनः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः
अष्टमम्the eighth (as)
अष्टमम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअष्टम
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
I
indriyas (sense-faculties)
M
manas (mind)
B
buddhi (intellect)
K
kṣetrajña (knower of the field/Self)

Educational Q&A

A human being is analyzed into instruments (five senses, mind, intellect) and the true subject (kṣetrajña, the witnessing Self). Ethical mastery begins by recognizing that the Self is distinct from sensory impulses and mental fluctuations, enabling disciplined, discerning action.

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to Yudhishthira, Bhishma continues a philosophical-ethical exposition, classifying the components of the person to support teachings on self-control, right understanding, and the pursuit of peace and liberation after the war.