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Shloka 24

Mokṣa–Saṃnyāsa–Tyāga–Guṇa-Vibhāga (Renunciation, Relinquishment, and the Three Guṇas) — Mahābhārata 6, Bhīṣma-parva

सम्बन्ध-- इस प्रकार गुणोंके सहित प्रकृति और पुरुषके ज्ञानका महत्त्व सुनकर यह इच्छा हो सकती है कि ऐसा ज्ञान कैसे होता है। इयलिये अब दो श्लोकोंद्वारा भिन्न-भिन्न अधिकारियोंके लिये तत्त्वज्ञानके भिन्न-भिन्न साधनोंका प्रतिपादन करते हैं-- ध्यानेनात्मनि पश्यन्ति केचिदात्मानमात्मना । अन्ये सांख्येन योगेन कर्मयोगेन चापरे,उस परमात्माको कितने ही मनुष्य तो शुद्ध हुई सूक्ष्म बुद्धिके ध्यानके द्वारा हृदयमें देखते हैं;* अन्य कितने ही ज्ञानयोगके द्वारा और दूसरे कितने ही कर्मयोगके द्वाराः देखते हैं अर्थात्‌ प्राप्त करते हैं

arjuna uvāca | dhyānenātmani paśyanti kecid ātmānam ātmanā | anye sāṅkhyena yogena karmayogena cāpare ||

Arjuna said: Some perceive the Self within the heart by the discipline of meditation—using the purified inner self to behold the Self. Others reach that realization through the path of discernment and knowledge (Sāṅkhya-yoga), and still others through the path of selfless action (karma-yoga).

ध्यानेनby meditation
ध्यानेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootध्यान
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
आत्मनिin the self
आत्मनि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन्
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
पश्यन्तिthey see
पश्यन्ति:
TypeVerb
Root√पश् (दृश्-अर्थे)
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
केचित्some (people)
केचित्:
Karta
TypeIndeclinable
Rootक-चित्
आत्मानम्the self
आत्मानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
आत्मनाby the self (by oneself)
आत्मना:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
अन्येothers
अन्ये:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootअन्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सांख्येनby Sāṅkhya (knowledge/discrimination)
सांख्येन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootसांख्य
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
योगेनby yoga
योगेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootयोग
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
कर्मयोगेनby karma-yoga (discipline of action)
कर्मयोगेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मयोग
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अपरेothers (another set)
अपरे:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootअपर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

अजुन उवाच

A
Arjuna
Ā
Ātman (Self)

Educational Q&A

Realization of the Self is attainable through different disciplines suited to different temperaments: meditative contemplation, discriminative knowledge (Sāṅkhya/jñāna-yoga), and selfless action (karma-yoga). The verse affirms multiple legitimate approaches to the same spiritual end.

In the Bhīṣma Parva dialogue context, Arjuna is engaging with teachings about prakṛti and puruṣa and asks, in effect, how such truth is realized. This verse introduces that seekers employ distinct methods—meditation, knowledge-yoga, or action-yoga—to perceive the inner Self.