Shloka 20
Doṣa-Parīkṣā and Guṇa-Viveka
Examination of Faults and Discernment of the Guṇas
गुणहीनो हि त॑ मार्ग बहि: समनुवर्तते । गुणाभावात् प्रकृत्या वा निस्तर्क्य ज्ञेयसम्मितम्
guṇahīno hi taṁ mārgaṁ bahiḥ samanuvartate | guṇābhāvāt prakṛtyā vā nistarkyaṁ jñeyasammitam ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Ang taong salat sa mga birtud ay sumusunod lamang sa panlabas na landas, nananatiling nasa labas. Ngunit ang Kataas-taasang Sarili—ang sukdulang bagay na dapat makilala—ay lampas sa mga guna; kaya sa likas nitong kalagayan, hindi ito mararating o masusukat ng pangangatwiran lamang.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
External observances without inner virtues keep one on an ‘outer path.’ The ultimate reality (Paramatman), being beyond the guṇas, cannot be captured by argument alone; it is approached through inner purification, disciplined practice, and direct realization rather than mere debate.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhishma continues his discourse on dharma and spiritual attainment, contrasting superficial religiosity with genuine inner transformation and pointing to the transcendence of the Supreme Self beyond conceptual reasoning.