Shloka 36
प्रजाविसर्ग-तत्त्वनिर्णयः | Cosmogony of Elemental Emergence
Bharadvāja–Bhṛgu Dialogue
आत्मन्येवात्मना जात आत्मनिष्ठो5प्रजोडपि वा । आत्मन्येव भविष्यामि न मां तारयति प्रजा
ātmany evātmanā jāta ātmāniṣṭho ’prajño ’pi vā | ātmany eva bhaviṣyāmi na māṃ tārayati prajā ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Ipinanganak sa Sarili sa pamamagitan ng Sarili, at nananatiling nakaugat sa Sarili—kahit walang anak o tagumpay sa daigdig—mananatili ako sa Sarili lamang at sa huli’y matutunaw at magbabalik sa Sarili. Hindi ang supling ang magtatawid sa akin sa dagat ng saṃsāra.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Liberation is grounded in Self-realization and steadfastness in the Ātman, not in external supports such as having children or securing lineage. One ‘crosses over’ saṃsāra through inner realization and detachment.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and liberation, Bhīṣma emphasizes a renunciant perspective: even without progeny, one who is established in the Self is complete, and final refuge is the Ātman alone.