Shloka 36
प्रजाविसर्ग-तत्त्वनिर्णयः | Cosmogony of Elemental Emergence
Bharadvāja–Bhṛgu Dialogue
आत्मन्येवात्मना जात आत्मनिष्ठो5प्रजोडपि वा । आत्मन्येव भविष्यामि न मां तारयति प्रजा,मैं संतानरहित होनेपर भी परमात्मामें ही परमात्मा-द्वारा उत्पन्न हुआ हूँ, परमात्मामें ही स्थित हूँ। आगे भी आत्मामें ही लीन होऊँगा। संतान मुझे पार नहीं उतारेगी
ātmany evātmanā jāta ātmāniṣṭho ’prajño ’pi vā | ātmany eva bhaviṣyāmi na māṃ tārayati prajā ||
Bhīṣma said: “Born within the Self by the Self, established in the Self—even if one is without offspring or worldly attainments—I shall remain in the Self alone and, in the end, merge into the Self. It is not progeny that carries me across (the ocean of saṃsāra).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Liberation is grounded in Self-realization and steadfastness in the Ātman, not in external supports such as having children or securing lineage. One ‘crosses over’ saṃsāra through inner realization and detachment.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and liberation, Bhīṣma emphasizes a renunciant perspective: even without progeny, one who is established in the Self is complete, and final refuge is the Ātman alone.