Shloka 23

अनाट्य॑ तत्परं ब्रह्म न देवा नर्षयो विदुः । एकस्तदू वेद भगवान्‌ धाता नारायण: प्रभु:,वह परब्रह्म अनादि और सबसे परे है। उसे न देवता जानते हैं न ऋषि। उसे तो एकमात्र जगत्पालक नारायण ही जानते हैं

anāṭyaṁ tat-paraṁ brahma na devā na ṛṣayo viduḥ | ekas tad eva veda bhagavān dhātā nārāyaṇaḥ prabhuḥ ||

Бхишма сказал: То высшее Брахман — безначальное, запредельное всякому проявлению и совершенно трансцендентное — неведомо ни богам, ни риши. Лишь один Владыка, Дхата, Творец и Хранитель мира, Нараяна, знает его воистину.

अनाट्यम्not to be acted/imitated; beyond representation
अनाट्यम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअनाट्य
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
तत्that
तत्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
परम्supreme, highest
परम्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootपर
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
ब्रह्मBrahman (the Absolute)
ब्रह्म:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
देवाःthe gods
देवाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदेव
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
nor
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
ऋषयःthe sages
ऋषयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootऋषि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
विदुःknow
विदुः:
TypeVerb
Rootविद्
FormPerfect, Third, Plural
एकःone (alone)
एकः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootएक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तत्that (Brahman)
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
indeed, surely
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
वेदknows
वेद:
TypeVerb
Rootविद्
FormPresent, Third, Singular
भगवान्the Blessed Lord
भगवान्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootभगवत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
धाताthe Creator, Sustainer
धाता:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधातृ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
नारायणःNarayana
नारायणः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनारायण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
प्रभुःthe Lord, master
प्रभुः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootप्रभु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
B
Brahman
D
Devas
R
Rishis
D
Dhata
N
Narayana

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches that the highest Brahman is transcendent and not fully grasped even by gods or sages; complete knowledge of it belongs uniquely to Narayana. Ethically, it encourages humility about one’s intellectual reach and directs reverence toward the supreme source.

In the Shanti Parva instruction, Bhishma is teaching Yudhishthira about ultimate reality and the supremacy of Narayana, emphasizing that even exalted cosmic beings have limits in knowledge.