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Shloka 36

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

गर्हितं महतामर्थ सांख्यानां विदितात्मनाम्‌ | भरतश्रेष्ठ] तामस, राजस और सात्त्विक--इन तीन प्रकारके प्राणियोंके जो तत्त्वज्ञानी महात्मा पुरुषोंद्वारा निन्दित मोक्षविरोधी व्यवहार हैं, उनको भी जानना चाहिये ।।

garhitaṁ mahatām artha sāṅkhyānāṁ viditātmanām | bharataśreṣṭha tāmasa-rājasa-sāttvikānāṁ trividha-prāṇināṁ ye tattvajñaiḥ mahātmabhiḥ puruṣaiḥ ninditā mokṣa-virodhinaḥ vyavahārāḥ, tān api jñātum arhasi || upaplavāṁs tathā ghorān śaśinaḥ tejasas tathā | nareśvara ghorotpātān candragrahaṇaṁ sūryagrahaṇaṁ tārāṇāṁ patanaṁ nakṣatra-gati-viparyayaṁ pati-patnyoḥ duḥkhadāyaka-viyogaṁ ca—yāni loke bhavanti, tāny api jñātvā sva-kalyāṇasya upāyaṁ kuryāḥ ||

Wika ni Bhīṣma: “O pinakadakila sa angkan ng mga Bharata, dapat mo ring makilala ang mga paraan ng asal—na nagmumula sa tatlong disposisyon: tamas, rajas, at sattva—na kinokondena ng mga dakilang kaluluwa na nakakabatid ng katotohanan, ang mga Sāṅkhya na nakapagtanto sa Sarili, sapagkat ang gayong asal ay humahadlang sa paglaya. At, O hari, dapat mo ring bigyang-pansin ang mga nakatatakot na pagyanig na nagaganap sa daigdig—mga kakila-kilabot na masamang palatandaan, pag-eclipse ng buwan at araw, pagbagsak ng mga bituin, pagbaligtad ng galaw ng mga konstelasyon, at ang malungkot na paghihiwalay ng mag-asawa—at, matapos maunawaan ang mga ito, isagawa ang mga paraan para sa sariling kapakanan.”

गर्हितम्censured, blameworthy
गर्हितम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootगर्हित (गर्ह् + क्त)
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular
महताम्of the great (persons)
महताम्:
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootमहत्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
अर्थम्meaning, matter, purpose
अर्थम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअर्थ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
सांख्यानाम्of the Sāṅkhyas / of those versed in enumeration (Sāṅkhya)
सांख्यानाम्:
TypeNoun/Adjective
Rootसांख्य
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
विदितात्मनाम्of those whose self is known/realized
विदितात्मनाम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootविदितात्मन्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
भरतश्रेष्ठO best of the Bharatas
भरतश्रेष्ठ:
TypeNoun
Rootभरतश्रेष्ठ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
B
Bharataśreṣṭha (the Bharata king, i.e., Yudhiṣṭhira as addressee)
S
Sāṅkhyas (Sāṅkhya-aligned sages/knowers)
M
Moon (Śaśin/Candra)
S
Sun (Tejas/Sūrya)
S
Stars (Tārāḥ)
N
Nakṣatras (constellations/asterisms)
H
Husband and wife (pati-patnī)

Educational Q&A

Bhīṣma urges the king to discern which patterns of conduct—shaped by tamas, rajas, and even sattva—are criticized by realized truth-knowers because they hinder liberation, and to respond wisely to worldly disturbances and ominous events by taking up measures that secure true welfare (kalyāṇa) rather than being driven by confusion or fear.

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīṣma continues his counsel on right living and spiritual aim: he lists liberation-obstructing behaviors and then points to frightening occurrences in the world—eclipses, celestial irregularities, and painful domestic separations—as realities a ruler should recognize and use as prompts for prudent, welfare-oriented action.