Shloka 54
Bhīṣma’s Śara-śayyā Stuti to Vāsudeva and Yogic Preparation for Dehotsarga
Body-Relinquishment
यं त्रिधा55त्मानमात्मस्थं वृतं षोडशभिय्गुणै: । प्राहु: सप्तदशं सांख्यास्तस्मै सांख्यात्मने नम:
yaṁ tridhātmānam ātmasthaṁ vṛtaṁ ṣoḍaśabhir guṇaiḥ | prāhuḥ saptadaśaṁ sāṅkhyās tasmai sāṅkhyātmane namaḥ ||
ସତ୍ତ୍ୱ-ରଜ-ତମ—ଏଇ ତିନି ଗୁଣଭେଦରୁ ତ୍ରିବିଧ ପ୍ରତୀତ ହେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଯିଏ ନିଜ ସ୍ୱରୂପରେ ଅବସ୍ଥିତ; ଗୁଣକାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଷୋଳ ବିକାରରେ ଆବୃତ ଦେଖାଗଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅଚଳ; ଯାହାଙ୍କୁ ସାଂଖ୍ୟମତୀୟମାନେ ସପ୍ତଦଶ ତତ୍ତ୍ୱ—ପୁରୁଷ—ବୋଲି କହନ୍ତି, ସେଇ ସାଂଖ୍ୟାତ୍ମ ପରମାତ୍ମାଙ୍କୁ ନମସ୍କାର।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The Self (Puruṣa) is intrinsically unchanged and self-established, even though it appears conditioned by the three guṇas and their sixteen products. Ethical and spiritual freedom comes from discriminating the witness-Self from the changing field of qualities and effects.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and liberation, Bhīṣma offers a reverential Sāṅkhya-style description of the Puruṣa, praising the transcendent Self that seems covered by the guṇic evolutes yet remains untouched in essence.