Shloka 8
Adhyāya 249 — Mṛtyu-prādurbhāvaḥ (The Manifestation of Death) / Restraint of Tejas and Ordered Saṃhāra
यथा पुष्पफलोपेतो बहुशाखो महाद्रुम: । आत्मनो नाभिजानीते क्व मे पुष्पं क्व मे फलम्
yathā puṣpaphalopeto bahuśākho mahādrumaḥ | ātmano nābhijānīte kva me puṣpaṃ kva me phalam ||
Wika ni Vyāsa: Kung paanong ang isang malaking punongkahoy, maraming sanga at hitik sa bulaklak at bunga, ay hindi nalalaman sa sarili nito, “Nasaan ang aking bulaklak, nasaan ang aking bunga?”, gayon din ang indibidwal na sarili ay hindi nakaaalam, “Saan ako nagmula at saan ako tutungo?” Ngunit sa loob ng katawang ito ay may isa pang panloob na Sarili, hiwalay sa kaluluwang nakabihis ng katawan, na walang humpay na sumasaksi at tumitingin sa lahat sa bawat paraan.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the embodied individual self lacks full knowledge of its own origin, destiny, and inner workings—like a tree unaware of where its own flowers and fruits are—while an inner, distinct witnessing Self (antarātmā) remains continuously aware of all states. Ethically, it points toward humility, self-inquiry, and reliance on inner discernment rather than egoic certainty.
In the Śānti Parva’s reflective instruction, Vyāsa uses a natural metaphor (a great tree with many branches) to explain a subtle psychological and metaphysical point: the jīva’s limited self-knowledge contrasted with the ever-present inner witness within the body.