Shloka 44
Vyaktāvyakta-Viveka and Nivṛtti as Paramā Gati
Manifest–Unmanifest Discrimination and the Supreme Path of Withdrawal
स्वप्नयोगे यथैवात्मा पज्चेन्द्रियसमायुत: । देहमुत्सज्य वै याति तथैवात्मोपलभ्यते
svapnayoge yathaivātmā pañcendriyasamāyutaḥ | deham utsṛjya vai yāti tathaivātmopalabhyate ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Kung paanong sa kalagayan ng panaginip, ang sarili—kasama ang limang pandama—ay waring lumalabas sa katawang ito at napapadako sa ibang dako, gayon din pagkaraan ng kamatayan, nauunawaan na ang sarili’y lumilisan sa katawang ito at tumatanggap ng panibagong katawan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses the dream-state as an analogy to explain transmigration: the self is not confined to one body, and after death it departs and takes another embodiment, much as it seems to ‘go elsewhere’ in dreams while still associated with sensory faculties.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on peace and right understanding, Bhishma is teaching about the nature of the self and continuity beyond death, offering a philosophical explanation meant to reduce fear and support dharmic insight.