Shloka 8
प्रजापतयः देवगणाश्च दिशि-दिशि स्थिताः ऋषयः
Prajāpatis, Deva-Groups, and the Ṛṣis Assigned to the Directions
ऋषक््सामसंघांश्व यजूंषि चापि च्छन्दांसि नक्षत्रगतिं निरुक्तम् | अधीत्य च व्याकरणं सकल्पं शिक्षां च भूतप्रकृतिं न वेझि
ṛk-sāma-saṁghānś ca yajūṁṣi cāpi chandāṁsi nakṣatra-gatiṁ niruktam | adhītya ca vyākaraṇaṁ sa-kalpaṁ śikṣāṁ ca bhūta-prakṛtiṁ na vetsi ||
Disse Bhīṣma: “Estudei as coleções de hinos do Ṛg e do Sāma, bem como as fórmulas do Yajus, e o Chandas (os metros védicos/também a tradição do Atharva). Aprendi ainda os cursos das estrelas, o Nirukta (etimologia) e a gramática; juntamente com o Kalpa e a Śikṣā. Contudo, mesmo após todo esse estudo, não cheguei a conhecer verdadeiramente a causa material primordial dos elementos—como o espaço e os demais.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma highlights that mastery of sacred texts and auxiliary sciences (Vedas, Vedāṅgas, astronomy) does not automatically yield realization of ultimate reality; true wisdom requires insight into the fundamental cause and nature of the elements, not merely accumulated learning.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhishma speaks as a teacher reflecting on the scope and limits of his own extensive education, using his confession of not knowing the ‘bhūta-prakṛti’ to steer the discussion toward deeper metaphysical understanding beyond ritual and linguistic expertise.