Shloka 21
सत्य–अनृत, प्रकाश–तमस्, स्वर्ग–नरक विवेचनम्
Truth and Untruth as Light and Darkness; Svarga and Naraka as Ethical Consequences
अहंकारस्य यः सत्रष्टा सर्वभूतभवाय वै । यत: समभवद् विश्व पृष्टो5हं यदिह त्वया,वे ही सम्पूर्ण भूतोंकी उत्पत्तिके लिये प्राकृत अहंकारकी सृष्टि करनेवाले हैं। तुमने मुझसे जो पूछा था कि इस विश्वकी उत्पत्ति किससे हुई है, वह सब मैंने तुम्हें बता दिया
ahaṅkārasya yaḥ sraṣṭā sarvabhūtabhavāya vai | yataḥ samabhavad viśvaṃ pṛṣṭo ’haṃ yad iha tvayā ||
Bhishma said: “He who is the creator of primordial egoity (ahaṅkāra), for the coming-to-be of all creatures—he is the source from whom this entire universe arose. What you asked me here about the origin of the world, I have now explained to you in full.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames creation in Sāṅkhya-like terms: the universe arises from a first cause that brings forth ahaṅkāra (the cosmic ‘I’-principle), which in turn enables the manifestation of all beings. It emphasizes causal explanation and completeness of instruction.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Bhīṣma is answering a question about the origin of the universe. He concludes this segment by identifying the creator of ahaṅkāra as the source of cosmic manifestation and stating that he has fully answered the inquiry.