Shloka 22
Utkramaṇa-sthāna and Ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇa: Yājñavalkya’s Instruction on Departure Pathways and Mortality Signs
निरिन्द्रियस्याबीजस्य निर्द्रव्यस्याप्पयदेहिन: । कथं गुणा भविष्यन्ति निर्गुणत्वान्महात्मन:,परंतु परमात्मा तो इन्द्रिय, बीज, द्रव्य और देहसे रहित तथा निर्गुण है; अतः उसमें गुण कैसे हो सकते हैं
nirindriyasya bījasya nirdravyasyāpy adehinaḥ | kathaṃ guṇā bhaviṣyanti nirguṇatvān mahātmanaḥ ||
Wika ni Vasiṣṭha: “Kung ang Kataas-taasang Sarili ay walang mga pandama, walang binhi (sanhi), walang sangkap na materyal, at maging walang katawan, paano pa magkakaroon ng anumang katangian sa dakilang Pag-iral na iyon—gayong ang likas Niyang kalagayan ay lampas sa mga katangian?”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse argues that the Supreme Self (Paramātman/Brahman) is intrinsically nirguṇa—beyond material qualities and the guṇas of prakṛti. Since It is not an embodied, sense-based, material entity and is not produced from a causal “seed,” ordinary attributes cannot properly be predicated of It.
In the Śānti Parva’s philosophical instruction, Vasiṣṭha is clarifying the nature of the Supreme Reality. He challenges any attempt to ascribe worldly qualities to the Paramātman by pointing out that qualities depend on embodiment, materiality, and causal origination—none of which apply to the Supreme.