Shloka 16
Adhyāya 353 — Kathā-prāmāṇya (Authority of Transmission) and the Brāhmaṇa’s Ascetic Resolve
स सप्तदशकेनापि राशिना युज्यते च सः । एवं बहुविध: प्रोक्त: पुरुषस्ते यथाक्रमम्
sa saptadaśakenāpi rāśinā yujyate ca saḥ | evaṁ bahuvidhaḥ proktaḥ puruṣas te yathākramam |
Bhishma said: That very Puruṣa is also conjoined with the aggregate of seventeen principles. Thus, in due order, the Puruṣa is described to you as manifold—because, through the differentiations of karma, he attains diverse states such as those of gods and animals. In this way, I have explained to you, step by step, how the Puruṣa is one in essence yet appears as many in experience.
पितामह उवाच
Educational Q&A
The conscious Self (Puruṣa) is one in essence, yet appears manifold because it is associated with a seventeenfold aggregate (the subtle-body principles) and, through differences of karma, experiences varied births and states such as divine and animal.
Bhishma (Pitamaha) continues his instruction in the Shanti Parva, explaining to his listener—sequentially—how the Puruṣa relates to the subtle body and why the same Self is spoken of as ‘many’ in the context of karmic destinies.