Shloka 22
Adhyātma–Adhibhūta–Adhidaivata Correspondences and the Triguṇa Lakṣaṇas (Śānti-parva 301)
बुद्धि तमसि संसक्तां तमो रजसि संश्रितम् । रज: सत्त्वे तथा सक्तं सत्त्वं सक्ते तथा55त्मनि
buddhiṁ tamasi saṁsaktāṁ tamo rajasi saṁśritam | rajaḥ sattve tathā saktaṁ sattvaṁ sakte tathātmani ||
Bhīṣma dit : «L’intellect (buddhi) s’emmêle dans l’obscurité (tamas) ; l’obscurité, à son tour, repose sur la passion (rajas). La passion est pareillement liée à la clarté (sattva), et la clarté est liée au Soi (ātman).» Sur le plan éthique, Bhīṣma montre comment le discernement humain est conditionné par les guṇa et indique, au-delà d’eux, le Soi intérieur comme base de stabilité et d’intelligence tournée vers la délivrance.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma explains a dependency-chain of the guṇas affecting human cognition: intellect gets caught in tamas; tamas leans on rajas; rajas is linked to sattva; and sattva is grounded in the ātman. The point is to recognize how mental states are conditioned and to orient discernment toward the self beyond guṇa-driven fluctuation.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma is teaching Yudhiṣṭhira about inner discipline and philosophical understanding after the war. This verse is part of his exposition on the guṇas and the structure of mind and self, guiding the king toward stable, liberation-oriented wisdom.