Shloka 13
Adhyāya 290: Sāṃkhya-vidhi, Deha-doṣa, Guṇa-vicāra, and Mokṣa-gati
Bhīṣma–Yudhiṣṭhira Dialogue
दैवं तात न पश्यामि नास्ति दैवस्य साधनम् । स्वभावतो हि संसिद्धा देवगन्धर्वदानवा:
daivaṁ tāta na paśyāmi nāsti daivasya sādhanam | svabhāvato hi saṁsiddhā devagandharvadānavāḥ ||
பராசரர் கூறினார்—மகனே! ‘தெய்வம்’ என்று தனித்தொரு அதிகாரத்தை நான் காணவில்லை; அதனை உண்டாக்கவோ கட்டுப்படுத்தவோ ஏதொரு சாதனமும் இல்லை. தேவர்கள், கந்தர்வர்கள், தானவர்கள் தத்தம் இயல்பினாலேயே தம் நிலையை அடைகிறார்கள்.
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse challenges the idea of an independent, external ‘fate’ (daiva) governing outcomes. It emphasizes svabhāva—innate nature or inherent constitution—as the primary explanatory principle for the capacities and conditions of different beings, implying responsibility and causality rooted in nature rather than an unseen destiny.
Parāśara addresses his son in a didactic context within Śānti Parva’s philosophical discussions. He presents a viewpoint that denies a separate agency called ‘fate’ and instead explains the status of gods, Gandharvas, and Dānavas as arising from their inherent nature.