Shloka 4
Adhyāya 241: Guṇa-sṛṣṭi, Kṣetrajña-sākṣitva, and Śama through Ātma-jñāna (गुणसृष्टिः, क्षेत्रज्ञसाक्षित्वं, शमः)
यां दिशं विद्यया यान्ति यां च गच्छन्ति कर्मणा । शृणुष्वैकमना वत्स गद्दरं होतदन्तरम्,“वत्स! ज्ञानसे मनुष्य जिस दिशाको जाते हैं और कर्मद्वारा उन्हें जिस गतिकी प्राप्ति होती है, वह सब बताता हूँ, एकचित्त होकर सुनो। इन दोनोंका अन्तर अत्यन्त गहन है
yāṃ diśaṃ vidyayā yānti yāṃ ca gacchanti karmaṇā | śṛṇuṣvaikamanā vatsa gahanaṃ hy etad antaram ||
Bhishma said: “Dear child, listen with a single, steady mind. I will tell you what direction people reach through true knowledge, and what course they attain through action. The difference between these two paths is exceedingly profound.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma distinguishes the spiritual destination attained through liberating knowledge (vidyā/jñāna) from the results attained through action (karma), emphasizing that their difference is subtle and profound.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to the king, Bhishma addresses his listener affectionately and prepares to explain two paths—knowledge and action—urging focused attention because the distinction between them is deep.