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Shloka 14

Adhyātma–Adhibhūta–Adhidaivata Correspondences and the Triguṇa Lakṣaṇas (Śānti-parva 301)

सत्त्वं दशगुणं ज्ञात्वा रजो नवगुणं तथा । तमश्नाष्टगुणं ज्ञात्वा बुद्धिं सप्तगुणां तथा

sattvaṁ daśaguṇaṁ jñātvā rajo navaguṇaṁ tathā | tamaś cāṣṭaguṇaṁ jñātvā buddhiṁ saptaguṇāṁ tathā ||

Бхишма сказал: «Постигнув, что саттва отмечена десятью качествами, раджас — девятью, тамас — восемью, а разум (буддхи) — семью, человек, наделённый различением, обретает ступенчатое знание о составляющих опыта. Благодаря такому различению гун и внутреннего орудия он способен судить о достоинствах и изъянах предметов чувств и о движениях желания и тем самым продвигается по пути, ведущему за пределы мирского страдания к освобождению».

सत्त्वम्sattva (quality of goodness)
सत्त्वम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसत्त्व
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
दशगुणम्having ten qualities / tenfold
दशगुणम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootदशगुण
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
ज्ञात्वाhaving known
ज्ञात्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootज्ञा
FormAbsolutive (Gerund)
रजःrajas (quality of activity/passion)
रजः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootरजस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
नवगुणम्having nine qualities / ninefold
नवगुणम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootनवगुण
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
तथाlikewise
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
तमःtamas (quality of darkness/inertia)
तमः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootतमस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अष्टगुणम्having eight qualities / eightfold
अष्टगुणम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअष्टगुण
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
ज्ञात्वाhaving known
ज्ञात्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootज्ञा
FormAbsolutive (Gerund)
बुद्धिम्intellect
बुद्धिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootबुद्धि
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
सप्तगुणाम्having seven qualities / sevenfold
सप्तगुणाम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसप्तगुण
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
तथाand likewise
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches discriminative knowledge (viveka) of the guṇas—sattva, rajas, tamas—and of buddhi. By understanding their graded qualities, one can diagnose the roots of desire, suffering, and confusion, and orient practice toward clarity and liberation.

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues his philosophical teaching to Yudhiṣṭhira, presenting a structured analysis of the guṇas and the inner faculties as part of a Sāṅkhya–Yoga framework aimed at peace, self-mastery, and mokṣa.