Shloka 9
Adhyāya 249 — Mṛtyu-prādurbhāvaḥ (The Manifestation of Death) / Restraint of Tejas and Ordered Saṃhāra
एवमात्मा न जानीते क््व गमिष्ये कुतस्त्वहम् । अन्यो ह्वात्रान्तरात्मास्ति यः सर्वमनुपश्यति
evam ātmā na jānīte kva gamiṣye kutas tv aham | anyo hv ātrāntarātmāsti yaḥ sarvam anupaśyati ||
Wika ni Vyāsa: Sa gayon, ang indibidwal na sarili ay hindi tunay na nakaaalam, “Saan ako tutungo?” o “Saan ako nagmula?” Ngunit sa loob ng katawang ito ay may isa pang panloob na Sarili, hiwalay sa kaluluwang nakabihis ng katawan, na walang humpay na nakakakita sa lahat sa bawat paraan.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The embodied individual self (jīva) is limited and does not know its true origin or destination, while a distinct inner witness (antarātmā) within observes everything. The verse points to a higher consciousness that grounds moral and existential clarity beyond the ego’s partial awareness.
In the Śānti Parva’s reflective instruction, Vyāsa explains a philosophical distinction: the ordinary self is ignorant of its own ultimate course, but an indwelling inner Self remains ever-seeing. The statement functions as guidance toward introspection and recognition of the witnessing principle.