Śrī–Indra–Bali Saṃvāda: The Departure and Fourfold Placement of Lakṣmī
इति सम्यड्मनस्येते बहव: सन्ति हेतव: । एतदस्तीदमस्तीति न किज्वचित्प्रतिदृश्यते
iti samyaṅ-manasy ete bahavaḥ santi hetavaḥ | etad astīdam astīti na kiñcit kvacit pratidṛśyate ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଏଭଳି ଭାବେ ମନ ସମ୍ୟକ୍ ଚିନ୍ତନରେ ଲଗିଲେ ଅନେକ ପ୍ରକାର ହେତୁ-ତର୍କ ଉଠେ; କିନ୍ତୁ ସେହି ତର୍କ-ପ୍ରତିତର୍କରୁ କେଉଁଠି ମଧ୍ୟ ନିଶ୍ଚିତ ଭାବେ ‘ଏହା ଅଛି’ କିମ୍ବା ‘ଏହା ନାହିଁ’ ବୋଲି ପ୍ରତ୍ୟକ୍ଷ ହୁଏ ନାହିଁ।
भीष्म उवाच
Bhishma highlights the limits of purely intellectual argument: many reasons can be produced on both sides, yet they may not yield decisive perception of truth—especially about the self. True understanding requires more than debate; it calls for deeper discernment and reliable means of knowledge.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhishma continues his philosophical counsel, cautioning that mental disputation generates numerous arguments but does not by itself settle the question of existence or non-existence (notably of the self).