Shloka 61
Adhyātma–Adhibhūta–Adhidaivata Correspondences and the Triguṇa Lakṣaṇas (Śānti-parva 301)
रजस्तमसि सम्मग्नं पड़के द्विपमिवावशम् | सांख्या राजन महाप्राज्ञास्त्यक्त्वा स्नेहं प्रजाकृतम्,राजन्! भरतनन्दन! महाबुद्धिमान् सांख्यके विद्वान् सैकड़ों गुणोंके द्वारा गुणोंको, सैकड़ों दोषोंके द्वारा दोषोंको तथा सैकड़ों विचित्र हेतुओंसे विचित्र हेतुओंको तत्त्वतः जानकर व्यापक ज्ञानके प्रभावसे संसारको पानीके फेनके समान नश्वर, विष्णुकी सैकड़ों मायाओंसे ढँका हुआ, दीवारपर बने हुए चित्रके समान, नरकुलके समान सारहीन, अन्धकारसे भरे हुए गड़्ढेकी भाँति भयंकर, वर्षाकालके पानीके बुलबुलोंके समान क्षणभंगुर, सुखहीन, पराधीन, नष्टप्राय तथा कीचड़में फँसे हुए हाथीकी तरह रजोगुण और तमोगुणमें मग्न समझते हैं। इसलिये वे संतान आदिकी आसक्तिको दूर करके तपरूप दण्डसे युक्त विवेकरूपी शस्त्रसे राजस-तामस अशुभ गन्धोंको और सुन्दर शोभनीय सात््विक गन्धोंको तथा स्पर्शेन्द्रियके देहाश्रित भोगोंकी आसक्तिको शीघ्र ही काट डालते हैं
bhīṣma uvāca | rajastamasi sammagnaṁ paḍake dvipam ivāvaśam | sāṅkhyā rājan mahāprājñās tyaktvā snehaṁ prajākṛtam ||
Bhishma said: O king, the great sages devoted to Sāṅkhya, having abandoned the affection born of worldly ties, understand this world as helplessly sunk in rajas and tamas—like an elephant trapped in mire. By the power of comprehensive discernment they recognize saṁsāra as perishable like foam upon water, veiled by countless māyās of Viṣṇu, insubstantial like a painted image on a wall, hollow like a reed, dreadful like a dark pit, and momentary like rain-bubbles. Therefore, cutting off attachment to progeny and other bonds, they swiftly sever—by the rod of austerity and the sword of discrimination—both the unwholesome rajasic-tamasic impulses and even the subtle clinging to pleasing sāttvic refinements, as well as attachment to bodily pleasures arising through touch.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The core teaching is Sāṅkhya-style dispassion: seeing the world as impermanent and guṇa-bound (rajas/tamas), one should renounce clinging (even to refined pleasures) and cut attachments through austerity (tapas) and discrimination (viveka) to move toward liberation.
In the Śānti Parva instruction scene, Bhīṣma addresses the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) and describes how Sāṅkhya sages evaluate saṁsāra through vivid metaphors (foam, painting, bubbles, dark pit, elephant in mud) and therefore abandon worldly affection and sever sense-attachments.