Shloka 44
धर्मस्य बहुद्वारत्वम् — Nārada’s Audience with Indra (Śānti-parva 340)
निर्गुणो निष्कलश्रैव निर्द्धन्द्ो निष्परिग्रह: । एतत् त्वया न विज्ञेयं रूपवानिति दृश्यते
nirguṇo niṣkalaś caiva nirdvandvo niṣparigrahaḥ | etat tvayā na vijñeyaṁ rūpavān iti dṛśyate ||
Bhīṣma dit : « Il est sans qualités, sans parties, au-delà des couples d’opposés, et libre de toute possession et de tout attachement. Cela ne se saisit pas comme un objet du savoir ordinaire — et pourtant on le perçoit comme s’il était pourvu de forme. »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the highest reality is transcendent—beyond qualities, parts, dualities, and possessiveness—so it cannot be captured by ordinary objectifying knowledge; nevertheless, it can be experienced or perceived as if it has form, accommodating human perception and devotion.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhīṣma continues his philosophical counsel, describing the nature of the supreme principle: intrinsically formless and unattached, yet appearing with form to the perceiver, highlighting the tension between ultimate reality and its accessible manifestation.