Shloka 80
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
एषामेकैकशोडर्थानां सौक्ष्म्यादीनां स्वलक्षणम् | शृणु संसार्यमाणानां पदार्थयदवाक्यत:
eṣām ekaikaśo 'rthānāṁ saukṣmyādīnāṁ svalakṣaṇam | śṛṇu saṁsāryamāṇānāṁ padārthayad avākyataḥ ||
Bhishma said: “Now hear the distinct defining marks of each of these meanings—beginning with subtlety. As they are set forth and unfolded through words, sentences, the meanings of words, and the meaning conveyed by the whole sentence, listen to them one by one.”
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma introduces a method of precise understanding: concepts like “subtlety” are to be grasped through their individual definitions, and clarified via levels of linguistic meaning—word, sentence, word-meaning, and sentence-meaning.
In the Shanti Parva’s instructional setting, Bhishma signals a transition into detailed exposition, inviting the listener to attend as he explains each concept systematically and defines it distinctly.