Shloka 29

Haṃsa–Sādhya Saṃvāda: Satya, Dama, Kṣamā and the Discipline of Speech

Devanagari script

सम्भवं च विनाशं च भूतानां चेष्टितं तथा । यस्तत्त्वतो विजानाति लोके5स्मिन्‌ मुक्त एव सः

Transliteration

sambhavaṃ ca vināśaṃ ca bhūtānāṃ ceṣṭitaṃ tathā | yas tattvato vijānāti loke 'smin mukta eva saḥ ||

Translation

భీష్ముడు పలికెను—ఈ లోకంలో భూతజాతి యొక్క ఉద్భవం, వినాశం, అలాగే వారి చేష్టలు-ఆచారాలను తత్త్వంగా తెలిసిన వాడు—ఇక్కడే ముక్తుడే. ఈ స్వాతంత్ర్యం కేవలం కర్మకాండల వల్ల కాదు; స్పష్టమైన జ్ఞానదృష్టి వల్ల కలుగుతుంది.

Word by Word

• सम्भवम्: origin, coming-into-being
• सम्भवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्भव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• विनाशम्: destruction
• विनाशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनाश
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• भूतानाम्: of beings
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• चेष्टितम्: activity, conduct, behavior
• चेष्टितम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेष्टित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तथा: likewise, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तत्त्वतः: in truth, as it really is
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्त्वतस्

• विजानाति: knows, understands
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ज्ञा
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• मुक्तः: liberated, freed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एव: indeed, certainly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• beings (bhūtāni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Liberation is attributed to clear, reality-based understanding: one who knows the true nature of beings—their arising, dissolution, and patterns of action—attains freedom here and now. The verse emphasizes insight (tattvataḥ-jñāna) as the decisive factor in moksha.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on dharma and the highest good. Here he frames a contemplative teaching: discerning the life-cycle and conduct of beings leads to inner release, aligning ethical life with wisdom about impermanence and causality.