Shloka 28
श्रेयो-धर्मकर्मविचारः
Inquiry into Śreyas, Dharma, and Karma
“श्रुति (वेद), शास्त्र और सोमपात्रसहित सोलह” ऋत्विजोंवाला यज्ञ भी वे ही हैं। वे ही ब्रह्मा, विष्णु, अश्विनीकुमार, इन्द्र, मित्र, वरुण, यम और कुबेर हैं ।। ते पृथग्दर्शनास्तस्य संविदन्ति तथैकताम् । एकस्य विद्धि देवस्य सर्व जगदिदं वशे,“उनका दर्शन पृथक्-पृथक् होनेपर भी वे अपनी एकताको जानते हैं। तुम भी इस सम्पूर्ण जगत्को एक परमात्मदेवके ही अधीन समझो
śruti-śāstra-somapātra-sahita-ṣoḍaśa-ṛtvijo-vālo yajño 'pi te eva. te eva brahmā viṣṇur aśvinīkumārau indro mitro varuṇo yamaḥ kuberaś ca. te pṛthag-darśanās tasya saṃvidanti tathā ekatām; ekasya viddhi devasya sarvaṃ jagad idaṃ vaśe.
Bhishma declares that the One Supreme is present as the Veda and the authoritative teachings, and even as the complete sacrifice furnished with the soma-vessel and the sixteen officiating priests. That same Reality is also known by many divine names—Brahmā, Viṣṇu, the Aśvin twins, Indra, Mitra, Varuṇa, Yama, and Kubera. Though people behold Him in distinct forms, those who truly understand recognize His single unity. Therefore, know that this entire world stands under the sovereignty of that one Divine Lord.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
All divine forms and even the structures of Vedic ritual ultimately refer to a single Supreme Reality; wise people may perceive many manifestations, yet they know the underlying oneness and see the whole world as governed by that One.
In the Śānti Parva instruction, Bhīṣma continues his discourse on dharma and higher knowledge, explaining to the listener that the many gods and the sacrificial system are expressions of one Lord, urging a unifying vision rather than sectarian division.