Shloka 38
मनु-उपदेशः — भूत-उत्पत्ति, इन्द्रिय-निवृत्ति, तथा पर-स्वभाव-विवेकः
Manu’s Instruction on Elemental Origination, Sense-Withdrawal, and Discrimination of the Supreme Nature
सत्त्वक्षेत्रज््योरेतदन्तरं पश्य सूक्ष्मयो: । सृजते तु गुणानेक एको न सृजते गुणान्,बुद्धि और आत्मा--ये दोनों ही सूक्ष्म तत्त्व हैं तथापि इनमें बड़ा भारी अन्तर है। तुम इस अन्तरपर दृष्टिपात करो। इनमें बुद्धि तो गुणोंकी सृष्टि करती है और आत्मा गुणोंकी सृष्टिसे अलग रहता है
sattva-kṣetrajñayor etad antaraṃ paśya sūkṣmayoḥ | sṛjate tu guṇān eka eko na sṛjate guṇān |
सत्त्वक्षेत्रज्ञयोरेतदन्तरं पश्य सूक्ष्मयोः । सृजते तु गुणानेक एको न सृजते गुणान् ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma distinguishes the guṇa-producing inner nature (sattva, as part of prakṛti/antahkaraṇa) from the kṣetrajña (Ātman), which is one, witnessing, and not a producer of qualities. Ethical implication: do not identify the Self with mental qualities; cultivate discernment and detachment.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on liberation-oriented dharma, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira by explaining subtle metaphysical categories—how the mind-nature generates guṇic modifications, while the Self remains distinct—guiding the listener toward discriminative knowledge (viveka).