Shloka 39
मनु-उपदेशः — भूत-उत्पत्ति, इन्द्रिय-निवृत्ति, तथा पर-स्वभाव-विवेकः
Manu’s Instruction on Elemental Origination, Sense-Withdrawal, and Discrimination of the Supreme Nature
मशकोदुम्बरौ वापि सम्प्रयुक्तो यथा सदा । अन्योन्यमेतौ ख्यातां च सम्प्रयोगस्तथा तयो:
maśakodumbarau vāpi samprayukto yathā sadā | anyonyam etau khyātāṁ ca samprayogas tathā tayoḥ ||
Sinabi ni Bhishma: “Gaya ng isang munting lamok at ng udumbara (cluster-fig) na laging magkalapit ngunit kilalang magkaiba, gayon din dapat maunawaan ang ugnayan ng buddhi (talino) at ng ātman (Sarili): magkasama sila sa pagkakaugnay, ngunit magkaiba pa rin.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when two things appear inseparably connected—like an insect living in a fig—one must discern their real difference. Likewise, buddhi (the instrument of cognition) and ātman (the witnessing Self) are conjoined in experience but are not identical; liberation-oriented understanding requires recognizing this distinction.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and higher knowledge, Bhishma continues his philosophical teaching by giving a concrete analogy to explain how the Self can be present with the mind/intellect in embodied life while remaining distinct from it.