Shloka 50
मनु-उपदेशः — भूत-उत्पत्ति, इन्द्रिय-निवृत्ति, तथा पर-स्वभाव-विवेकः
Manu’s Instruction on Elemental Origination, Sense-Withdrawal, and Discrimination of the Supreme Nature
प्रध्वस्ता न निवर्तन्ते निवृत्तिनोपलभ्यते । प्रत्यक्षेण परोक्षं तदनुमानेन सिध्यति
pradhvastā na nivartante nivṛttir nopalabhyate | pratyakṣeṇa parokṣaṁ tad anumānena sidhyati ||
Bhīṣma explica que, aunque las cualidades (guṇas) parezcan destruidas tras la realización del Sí mismo, no cesan por completo, pues su cesación absoluta no se percibe directamente. Lo que está fuera de la percepción se establece por inferencia. Así, algunos sabios concluyen de ese modo, mientras otros sostienen que los guṇas se extinguen totalmente. Tras examinar bien ambas posturas, debe decidirse la verdad conforme a un entendimiento sólido.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma distinguishes between what can be known by direct perception (pratyakṣa) and what must be known by inference (anumāna). Since the absolute cessation of the guṇas is not directly perceived, one must reason carefully about whether they truly end completely or only appear to subside.
In the Shanti Parva’s instructional dialogue, Bhishma is teaching philosophical discernment. He presents competing views about the fate of the guṇas and emphasizes reflective judgment—evaluating both sides and concluding according to one’s best understanding.