Shloka 24

Adhyātma–Adhibhūta–Adhidaivata Correspondences and the Triguṇa Lakṣaṇas (Śānti-parva 301)

Devanagari script

ज्ञात्वा सत्त्वगुणं देहं वृतं षोडशभिग्गुणै: । स्वभावं चेतनां चैव ज्ञात्वा देहसमाश्रिते

Transliteration

jñātvā sattvaguṇaṃ dehaṃ vṛtaṃ ṣoḍaśabhir guṇaiḥ | svabhāvaṃ cetanāṃ caiva jñātvā dehasamāśrite

Translation

Wika ni Bhishma: “Kapag naunawaan na ang katawan ay may tatak ng sattva at nababalutan ng labing-anim na sangkap, at kapag natukoy rin ang likas na hilig (svabhāva) at kamalayan (cetanā) na nananahan at umaasa sa katawan—dapat magpatuloy ang tao sa wastong pagkaunawa tungkol sa Sarili at sa asal.” Itinuturo ng aral ang linaw sa etika: alamin kung alin ang kondisyunado (mga sangkap at hilig ng katawan) at alin ang liwanag ng pagkamalay, upang magampanan ang tungkulin nang hindi napagkakamalang ang Sarili ay ang katawan.

Word by Word

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• सत्त्वगुणम्: the quality of sattva
• सत्त्वगुणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्वगुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• देहम्: the body
• देहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वृतम्: covered, enveloped
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत (√वृ ‘to cover’)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• षोडशभिः: by sixteen
• षोडशभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: षोडश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• गुणैः: by qualities, constituents
• गुणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• स्वभावम्: one's nature
• स्वभावम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• चेतनाम्: consciousness
• चेतनाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• देहसमाश्रिते: in the two that are dependent on the body
• देहसमाश्रिते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देह-समाश्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Dual

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• deha (body)
• sattva-guṇa
• ṣoḍaśa-guṇa (sixteen constituents)
• svabhāva
• cetanā

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Discernment: understand the body as a compound of constituents and guṇas, recognize innate tendencies (svabhāva), and distinguish these from consciousness (cetanā). This clarity supports ethical action (dharma) without mistaking bodily conditioning for the true self.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma continues his philosophical guidance to Yudhiṣṭhira, explaining how knowledge of the body’s constitution and the presence of consciousness within embodied life leads to right understanding and steadiness in conduct.