Shloka 22
Utkramaṇa-sthāna and Ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇa: Yājñavalkya’s Instruction on Departure Pathways and Mortality Signs
निरिन्द्रियस्याबीजस्य निर्द्रव्यस्याप्पयदेहिन: । कथं गुणा भविष्यन्ति निर्गुणत्वान्महात्मन:,परंतु परमात्मा तो इन्द्रिय, बीज, द्रव्य और देहसे रहित तथा निर्गुण है; अतः उसमें गुण कैसे हो सकते हैं
nirindriyasya bījasya nirdravyasyāpy adehinaḥ | kathaṃ guṇā bhaviṣyanti nirguṇatvān mahātmanaḥ ||
Dijo Vasiṣṭha: «Si el Ser Supremo carece de sentidos, carece de semilla (causa), carece de sustancia material e incluso de cuerpo, ¿cómo podrían surgir cualidades en ese Gran Ser, si su propia naturaleza está más allá de toda cualidad?»
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse argues that the Supreme Self (Paramātman/Brahman) is intrinsically nirguṇa—beyond material qualities and the guṇas of prakṛti. Since It is not an embodied, sense-based, material entity and is not produced from a causal “seed,” ordinary attributes cannot properly be predicated of It.
In the Śānti Parva’s philosophical instruction, Vasiṣṭha is clarifying the nature of the Supreme Reality. He challenges any attempt to ascribe worldly qualities to the Paramātman by pointing out that qualities depend on embodiment, materiality, and causal origination—none of which apply to the Supreme.