Shloka 21
Adhyātma–Adhibhūta–Adhidaivata Correspondences and the Triguṇa Lakṣaṇas (Śānti-parva 301)
तेजो वायौ तु संसक्त वायुं नभसि चाश्रितम् | नभो महति संयुक्त महद् बुद्धौ च संश्रितम्
tejo vāyau tu saṁsaktaṁ vāyuṁ nabhasi cāśritam | nabho mahati saṁyuktaṁ mahad buddhau ca saṁśritam ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Ang ningning (tejas—apoy) ay nakaugnay sa hangin; ang hangin ay nananahan sa kalawakan. Ang kalawakan ay nakadugtong sa Dakilang Prinsipyo (mahat), at ang mahat naman ay nakasalig sa kosmikong talino (buddhi).” Sa aral na ito, sinusundan ni Bhishma ang tanikala ng pagsuporta sa pagitan ng maseselang elemento at mga panloob na simulain, upang maunawaan sa pagninilay kung paanong ang nahahayag na daigdig ay umaasa sa higit na maseselang sanhi at pamamahala.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That the manifest elements and forces are mutually dependent and ultimately grounded in subtler principles (space, mahat, buddhi). The verse encourages seeing causality and support-relationships behind appearances, a step toward discernment (viveka) and dharmic clarity.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on higher knowledge and right understanding. Here he presents a Sāṅkhya-like sequence linking the elements (fire, wind, space) to cosmic principles (mahat, buddhi) to explain how the world is structured and sustained.