Adhyāya 241: Guṇa-sṛṣṭi, Kṣetrajña-sākṣitva, and Śama through Ātma-jñāna (गुणसृष्टिः, क्षेत्रज्ञसाक्षित्वं, शमः)
यां दिशं विद्यया यान्ति यां च गच्छन्ति कर्मणा । शृणुष्वैकमना वत्स गद्दरं होतदन्तरम्
yāṃ diśaṃ vidyayā yānti yāṃ ca gacchanti karmaṇā | śṛṇuṣvaikamanā vatsa gahanaṃ hy etad antaram ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Anak, makinig ka nang may iisang matatag na diwa: sasabihin ko kung saang dako nakararating ang tao sa pamamagitan ng kaalaman, at anong landas ang natatamo niya sa pamamagitan ng gawa. Napakalalim ng pagkakaiba ng dalawang daang ito.”
भीष्म उवाच
Bhishma distinguishes the spiritual destination attained through liberating knowledge (vidyā/jñāna) from the results attained through action (karma), emphasizing that their difference is subtle and profound.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to the king, Bhishma addresses his listener affectionately and prepares to explain two paths—knowledge and action—urging focused attention because the distinction between them is deep.