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 ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ— ତେଜ ବାୟୁ ସହିତ ସଂଯୁକ୍ତ, ଏବଂ ବାୟୁ ଆକାଶରେ ଆଶ୍ରିତ। ଆକାଶ ମହତ୍ତତ୍ତ୍ୱ ସହିତ ସଂଯୁକ୍ତ, ଏବଂ ମହତ୍ତତ୍ତ୍ୱ ସମଷ୍ଟି-ବୁଦ୍ଧିରେ ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠିତ।
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.