Shloka 16

Adhyātma–Adhibhūta–Adhidaivata Correspondences and the Triguṇa Lakṣaṇas (Śānti-parva 301)

Devanagari script

द्विगुणं च रजो ज्ञात्वा सत्त्वमेकगुणं पुन: । मार्ग विज्ञाय तत्त्वेन प्रलये प्रेक्षणे तथा,वक्ताओंमें श्रेष्ठ नरेश्वर! जो ज्ञानके द्वारा मनुष्य, पिशाच, राक्षस, यक्ष, सर्प, गन्धर्व, पितर, तिर्यग्योनि, गरुड़, मरुदण, रार्जर्षि, ब्रह्मर्षि, असुर, विश्वेदेव, देवर्षि, योगी, प्रजापति तथा ब्रह्माजीके भी सम्पूर्ण दुर्जय विषयोंकों सदोष जानकर, संसारके मनुष्योंका परमायुकाल तथा सुखके परमतत्त्वका ठीक-ठीक ज्ञान प्राप्त कर लेते हैं और विषयोंकी इच्छा रखनेवाले पुरुषोंको समय-समयपर जो दु:ख प्राप्त होता है, उसको, तिर्यग्योनि और नरकमें पड़नेवाले जीवोंके दुःखको, स्वर्ग तथा वेदकी फल-श्रुतियोंके सम्पूर्ण गुण-दोषोंको जानकर ज्ञानयोग, सांख्यज्ञान और योगमार्गके गुण-दोषोंको भी समझ लेते हैं तथा भरतनन्दन! सत्त्वगुणके दस, रजोगुणके नौउ, तमोगुणके आठ, बुद्धिके सातरं, मनके छ:5 और आकाशके पाँचः गुणोंका ज्ञान प्राप्त करके बुद्धिके दूसरे चार, तमोगुणके दूसरे तीन, रजोगुणके दूसरे दो* और सत्त्वगुणके पुनः: एक* गुणको जानकर आत्माकी प्राप्ति करानेवाले मार्ग--प्राकृत प्रलय तथा आत्मविचारको ठीक-ठीक जान लेते हैं, वे ज्ञान- विज्ञानसे सम्पन्न तथा मोक्षोपयोगी साधनोंके अनुष्ठानसे शुद्धचित्त हुए कल्याणमय सांख्ययोगी परम आकाशको प्राप्त होनेवाले सूक्ष्म भूतोंक समान मंगलमय मोक्षको प्राप्त कर लेते हैं

Transliteration

dviguṇaṁ ca rajo jñātvā sattvam ekaguṇaṁ punaḥ | mārgaṁ vijñāya tattvena pralaye prekṣaṇe tathā ||

Translation

Bhishma said: Having understood that rajas is twofold and that sattva is again single in its essential character, and having discerned—according to reality—the true path, as well as the principles of dissolution (pralaya) and the discipline of inner seeing (contemplative examination), one becomes capable of judging the objects of sense along with their defects and of moving toward liberation through right knowledge.

Word by Word

द्विगुणम्twofold (as having two qualities)

चand

रजःrajas (the quality of activity/passion)

ज्ञात्वाhaving known

सत्त्वम्sattva (the quality of clarity/goodness)

एकगुणम्onefold (as having one quality)

पुनःagain; further

मार्गम्path; way

विज्ञायhaving discerned/understood

तत्त्वेनby truth; in accordance with reality

प्रलयेin dissolution; at the time of cosmic dissolution

प्रेक्षणेin contemplation/observation

तथाthus; likewise

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes discriminative knowledge of the guṇas—especially the structure of rajas and sattva—and insists that liberation-oriented practice depends on grasping the true path along with the principles of dissolution (pralaya) and contemplative inner examination (prekṣaṇa).

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhishma continues his post-war instruction to Yudhishthira, shifting from external duties to inner disciplines: analysis of nature (guṇas), correct discernment of the path, and contemplative insight that supports renunciation and liberation.