Shloka 21
Adhyātma–Adhibhūta–Adhidaivata Correspondences and the Triguṇa Lakṣaṇas (Śānti-parva 301)
तेजो वायौ तु संसक्त वायुं नभसि चाश्रितम् | नभो महति संयुक्त महद् बुद्धौ च संश्रितम्
tejo vāyau tu saṁsaktaṁ vāyuṁ nabhasi cāśritam | nabho mahati saṁyuktaṁ mahad buddhau ca saṁśritam ||
ビーシュマは言った。「光輝（テージャス、火）は風と結びつき、風は虚空に依る。虚空は大原理（マハット）と結合し、マハットはさらに宇宙の知（ブッディ）に根拠づけられている。」この教えにおいてビーシュマは、微細な諸元素と内なる原理のあいだの支えの連鎖を辿り、顕現する世界がより微妙な原因と統御に依存することを省察によって悟るよう促す。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That the manifest elements and forces are mutually dependent and ultimately grounded in subtler principles (space, mahat, buddhi). The verse encourages seeing causality and support-relationships behind appearances, a step toward discernment (viveka) and dharmic clarity.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on higher knowledge and right understanding. Here he presents a Sāṅkhya-like sequence linking the elements (fire, wind, space) to cosmic principles (mahat, buddhi) to explain how the world is structured and sustained.