Shloka 44

मनु-उपदेशः — भूत-उत्पत्ति, इन्द्रिय-निवृत्ति, तथा पर-स्वभाव-विवेकः

Manu’s Instruction on Elemental Origination, Sense-Withdrawal, and Discrimination of the Supreme Nature

Devanagari script

आश्रयो नास्ति सत्त्वस्य क्षेत्रज्ञस्य च कश्षन | सत्त्वं मनः संसृजते न गुणान्‌ वै कदाचन

Transliteration

āśrayo nāsti sattvasya kṣetrajñasya ca kaścana | sattvaṁ manaḥ saṁsṛjate na guṇān vai kadācana ||

Translation

Бхишма сказал: Для внутреннего начала (саттвы) нет внешней опоры, и для знающего поле (кшетраджни) также нет иного прибежища. Ум формирует и проецирует состояния саттвы, но никогда поистине не соприкасается напрямую с гунами. Это учение утверждает внутреннюю самодостаточность: освобождение достигается не цеплянием за внешние подпорки, а различением Я-свидетеля, отдельного от умственных построений и игры качеств.

Word by Word

• आश्रयः: support, refuge
• आश्रयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अस्ति: is/exists
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सत्त्वस्य: of the being/essence (sattva)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• क्षेत्रज्ञस्य: of the knower of the field (kṣetrajña)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्रज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• कश्चन: any (one/thing) whatsoever
• कश्चन: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: कश्चन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सत्त्वम्: being/essence (sattva)
• सत्त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• संसृजते: connects/associates (itself) with
• Type: Verb
• Root: संसृज्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• गुणान्: qualities/guṇas
• गुणान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• कदाचन: ever, at any time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• kṣetrajña
• manas
• guṇas
• sattva

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that the true witness (kṣetrajña) and the inner principle (sattva) do not depend on external supports; what appears as inner states is constructed by mind, while the self remains distinct from the guṇas. Ethically, it points to steadiness and non-dependence: cultivate discernment (viveka) so one is not driven by shifting qualities and mental projections.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and the path to peace after the war. Here he turns to a philosophical explanation aligned with Sāṅkhya-style analysis, distinguishing the witnessing knower (kṣetrajña) from mind and the guṇas, to guide the king toward inner clarity and liberation-oriented conduct.