Shloka 10
धर्मलक्षण-प्रश्नः (Marks and Sources of Dharma) | Chapter 251: Inquiry into the Definition of Dharma
पज्चानां भूतसंघानां संततिं मुनयो विदु: । मनो नवममेषां तु बुद्धिस्तु दशमी स्मृता
pañcānāṃ bhūtasaṅghānāṃ santatiṃ munayo viduḥ | mano navamam eṣāṃ tu buddhis tu daśamī smṛtā ||
Vyāsa dit : Les sages comprennent que de l’agrégat des cinq grands éléments naît encore une succession de principes. Parmi eux, le mental (manas) est tenu pour le neuvième, et l’intellect (buddhi) est rappelé comme le dixième. Dans cet enseignement, les instruments intérieurs qui meuvent la perception et l’action sont comptés comme des réalités distinctes, montrant comment l’ignorance et l’élan du désir peuvent façonner la conduite si l’intellect discernant ne les gouverne pas.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a tattva-counting: beyond the five great elements, sages recognize further principles, specifically identifying mind as the ninth and intellect as the tenth. Ethically, it implies that right action depends on buddhi governing manas, preventing ignorance-driven conduct.
In Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, Vyāsa delivers a doctrinal explanation to clarify how reality and the inner faculties are classified. The focus is not on external events but on teaching a framework for understanding the mind–intellect complex that underlies moral choice.