Shloka 14
Vyaktāvyakta-Viveka and Nivṛtti as Paramā Gati
Manifest–Unmanifest Discrimination and the Supreme Path of Withdrawal
यत्तदक्षरमव्यक्तममृतं ब्रह्म शाश्वतम् | वदन्ति पुरुषव्याप्र केशवं पुरुषर्षभम्,पुरुषसिंह! पुरुषोत्तम श्रीकृष्णको ही अक्षर, अव्यक्त, अमृत एवं सनातन परब्रह्म कहते हैं
yattad akṣaram avyaktam amṛtaṁ brahma śāśvatam | vadanti puruṣavyāghra keśavaṁ puruṣarṣabham puruṣasiṁha puruṣottamam ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai harimau di antara manusia! Brahman yang Tidak Binasa, Tidak Termanifest, Tidak Mati, dan Kekal itu mereka sebut sebagai Keśava—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; lembu jantan unggul di antara manusia, singa di antara manusia, dan Purusha Tertinggi.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse identifies Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Keśava) with the highest metaphysical principle—Brahman described as imperishable (akṣara), unmanifest (avyakta), deathless (amṛta), and eternal (śāśvata). Ethically, it grounds dharma and liberation-oriented life in recognition of the Supreme as both personal (Kṛṣṇa) and absolute (Brahman).
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma, lying on the bed of arrows, continues teaching Yudhiṣṭhira. Here he praises and theologically defines Kṛṣṇa, declaring that what sages call the eternal, unmanifest Brahman is none other than Keśava, the Supreme Person.