Shloka 24
अध्यात्म-तत्त्व-निर्णयः
Adhyātma Taxonomy: Elements, Faculties, and Guṇas
शकुन्तानामिवाकाशे मत्स्यानामिव चोदके । यथा गतिर्न दृश्येत तथा ज्ञानविदां गति:
śakuntānām ivākāśe matsyānām iva codake | yathā gatir na dṛśyeta tathā jñānavidāṃ gatiḥ ||
Sebagaimana jejak burung tak tampak di langit dan jejak ikan tak tampak di air, demikian pula laku dan gerak para bijak yang berteguh dalam pengetahuan tak dapat ditelusuri oleh orang lain.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The realized person’s true ‘gati’—their inner trajectory and spiritual standing—cannot be inferred from external signs. Like birds and fish leaving no footprints in their natural elements, the wise act without leaving binding traces (karma-markers) born of attachment, so ordinary observers cannot easily judge or measure them.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction-oriented setting, Vyāsa delivers a reflective teaching using a natural metaphor. He contrasts visible worldly traces with the subtle, inwardly grounded movement of the jñānī, emphasizing that the sage’s real direction and attainment are not publicly legible.