Shloka 5
मनस्–बुद्धि–गुणविचारः (Manas–Buddhi–Guṇa Inquiry) — Meditation and Nirguṇa Realization
चतुर्णा लोकपालानां शुक्रस्याथ बृहस्पते: । मसरुतां विश्वदेवानां साध्यानामश्चिनोरपि,तात! वरुण, कुबेर, इन्द्र और यमराज--इन चारों लोकपालों, शुक्र, बृहस्पति, मरुदगण, विश्वेदेव, साध्य, अश्विनीकुमार, रुद्र, आदित्य, वसु तथा अन्य देवताओंके जो ऐसे ही लोक हैं, वे सब परमात्माके परमधामके सामने नरक ही हैं
caturṇāṃ lokapālānāṃ śukrasyātha bṛhaspateḥ | marutāṃ viśvadevāṇāṃ sādhyānām aśvinor api, tāta! varuṇa-kubera-indra-yamarāja—eteṣāṃ caturṇāṃ lokapālānāṃ, śukra-bṛhaspati-marudgaṇa-viśvedeva-sādhya-aśvinīkumāra-rudra-āditya-vasu-tathānyadevatānāṃ ca ye tathāvidhā lokāḥ, te sarve paramātmano paramadhāmasya samakṣaṃ naraka eva |
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Mahal kong anak, ang mga daigdig na nauukol sa apat na tagapangalaga ng mga dako—Varuṇa, Kubera, Indra, at Yama—gayundin ang mga daigdig nina Śukra at Bṛhaspati, ng mga Marut, Viśvedevas, Sādhyas, at ng kambal na Aśvin; oo, maging ang mga kaharian ng mga Rudra, Āditya, Vasu, at iba pang diyos—gaano man kataas—kung ihahambing sa pinakadakilang tahanan ng Paramātman, ay hindi hihigit pa sa impiyerno.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the highest celestial realms—those of major gods and divine hosts—are ultimately inferior when set against the Supreme Self’s highest abode; therefore one should not mistake heavenly attainment for the final good, but orient one’s life toward liberation and the supreme state.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma addresses the listener affectionately (“tāta”) and emphasizes a hierarchy of goals: he lists renowned divine realms and declares that, compared to the Supreme’s abode, they are as nothing—using ‘hell’ as a stark metaphor to redirect aspiration from worldly or heavenly reward to the highest spiritual end.