Shloka 13
बलीन्द्रसंवादः — Kāla, Anityatā, and the Limits of Agency
Mahābhārata 12.217
तस्माच्चतुष्टयं वेद्यमेतै्हेतुभिरावृतम् । यथासंज्ञो हायं सम्यगन्तकाले न मुह्ृति
tasmāc catuṣṭayaṁ vedyam etair hetubhir āvṛtam | yathāsaṁjño hy ayaṁ samyag antakāle na muhṛti ||
Sinabi ni Bhishma: Kaya dapat makilala ang apat na anyo ng katotohanang ito, bagaman natatakpan ng mga salik na sanhi. Kapag naunawaan ito nang wasto at may malinaw na paghiwatig, hindi nahuhulog ang tao sa pagkalito sa oras ng kamatayan, kundi hinaharap ang wakas nang matatag ang isip.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that one should discern a fourfold set of fundamental realities, even though they are obscured by causal factors; such right knowledge prevents confusion and attachment at the moment of death.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues his philosophical counsel, emphasizing that clear metaphysical understanding (rather than mere ritual or emotion) steadies a person when facing death.