Shloka 23
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
न चैकसाध्यं पश्यामि विज्ञानं भुवि कस्यचित् | दिवि वा सागरगमास्तेन वो मानयाम्यहम्
na caikasādhyaṁ paśyāmi vijñānaṁ bhuvi kasyacit | divi vā sāgaragamās tena vo mānayāmy aham |
Mahēśvara dit : «Je ne vois nulle connaissance qui, pour quiconque sur la terre—ni même au ciel—soit atteignable par un seul moyen. C’est pourquoi je vous rends honneur, car vous avez entrepris la voie ardue qui fait traverser l’océan (de l’existence mondaine).»
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
True understanding is not gained through a single, exclusive method; it requires multiple supports (such as discipline, reflection, guidance, and devotion). Recognizing the difficulty of crossing the ‘ocean’ of worldly existence, the speaker commends sincere seekers rather than claiming one narrow path as sufficient for all.
Maheshvara addresses the listeners and expresses respect for their striving. He observes that no one—whether on earth or even in heaven—attains realized knowledge by only one means, and he therefore honors them as earnest ‘ocean-crossers,’ i.e., those undertaking the demanding spiritual journey.