Shloka 30
सत्य–अनृत, प्रकाश–तमस्, स्वर्ग–नरक विवेचनम्
Truth and Untruth as Light and Darkness; Svarga and Naraka as Ethical Consequences
अग्निमारुततोयानां वर्णा: क्षितितलस्य च | आकाशादवगृहान्ते भिद्यन्ते5तत्त्वदर्शनात्
agnimārutatoyānāṁ varṇāḥ kṣititalasya ca | ākāśād avagṛhānte bhidyante tattvadarśanāt |
Bharadvāja said: “The distinctive qualities of fire, wind, and water—and also of the earth’s surface—are understood to be differentiated, from space down to the smallest enclosed form, through true insight into reality. By seeing the principles as they are, one discerns how the elements and embodied forms are marked off by their own natures.”
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
True knowledge (tattva-darśana) enables one to discriminate the distinct natures of the elements and embodied forms—seeing how each is defined by its own characteristic qualities rather than being confused as one undifferentiated mass.
In Śānti Parva’s philosophical instruction, Bharadvāja is explaining a framework of reality: from ākāśa (space) down through the elements and into bounded forms, their differences become clear to one who has insight into principles (tattvas).