Shloka 9
Śuka–Janaka Saṃvāda: Āśrama-krama, Jñāna-vijñāna, and the Marks of Liberation (शुक-जनक संवादः)
प्राणमध्यात्ममित्याहुर्यथा श्रुतिनिदर्शिन: । गन्ध एवाधिभूतं तु पृथिवी चाधिदेवतम्,वैदिक मतके अनुसार यथार्थ तत्त्वका ज्ञान रखनेवाले विद्वान् कहते हैं कि नासिका अध्यात्म है, गन्ध अधिभूत है और पृथ्वी अधिदैवत है
prāṇam adhyātmam ity āhur yathā śrutinidarśinaḥ | gandha evādhibhūtaṃ tu pṛthivī cādhidaivatam ||
Yājñavalkya disse: “Aqueles que verdadeiramente compreendem o propósito da revelação védica declaram que, neste mapeamento triádico, o prāṇa é o princípio interior (adhyātma); a fragrância é o objeto elemental (adhibhūta); e a Terra é o poder divino que preside (adhidaivata).” Deste modo ele ensina a ler a experiência de forma ética e contemplativa—como uma ordem coordenada que liga o eu, o mundo e a governança divina da natureza.
याज़्वल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a Vedic-style correspondence: inner life-force (prāṇa) is the adhyātma (subjective/inner) principle; smell (gandha) is the adhibhūta (objective/elemental) aspect; and Earth (pṛthivī) is the adhidaivata (presiding divine principle). It frames perception and existence as an ordered unity of self, world, and divine regulation.
In Śānti Parva’s instructional discourse, Yājñavalkya is explaining metaphysical classifications drawn from Śruti. He presents a specific triad to guide the listener toward disciplined understanding of how bodily functions and sensory objects relate to cosmic and divine principles.