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Shloka 26

बलीन्द्रसंवादः — Kāla, Anityatā, and the Limits of Agency

Mahābhārata 12.217

युक्ते धारणया सम्यक्‌ सतः केचिदुपासते । अभ्यस्यन्ति परं देवं विद्युत्संशब्दिताक्षरम्‌,इसी तरह कोई तो योगधारणाके द्वारा सगुण ब्रह्मकी उपासना करते हैं और कोई उस परम देवका चिन्तन करते हैं, जो विद्युतके समान ज्योतिर्मय और अविनाशी कहा गया है

bhīṣma uvāca | yukte dhāraṇayā samyak sataḥ kecid upāsate | abhyasyanti paraṁ devaṁ vidyut-saṁśabditākṣaram |

اسی طرح کچھ لوگ درست ضبط و نظم کے ساتھ دھارَنا (یکسوئی) کے ذریعے حقیقتِ مطلق (ست) کی عبادت کرتے ہیں۔ اور کچھ اس پرم دیو کی مراقبت و ریاضت کرتے ہیں جسے بجلی کی مانند درخشاں اور اَکشر—یعنی لازوال و غیر فانی—کہا گیا ہے۔

युक्तेin (a state of) being yoked/engaged
युक्ते:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootयुक्त
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
धारणयाby concentration/retention (dhāraṇā)
धारणया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootधारणा
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
सम्यक्properly, rightly
सम्यक्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसम्यक्
सतःthe existent/Being (sat)
सतः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसत्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
केचित्some (people)
केचित्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootक-चित्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
उपासतेworship, revere
उपासते:
TypeVerb
Rootउप-आस्
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Ātmanepada
अभ्यस्यन्तिpractice, repeatedly contemplate
अभ्यस्यन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-अस्
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
परम्supreme
परम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootपर
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
देवम्God, deity
देवम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदेव
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
विद्युत्-संशब्दित-अक्षरम्the imperishable (one) described/characterized as (like) lightning
विद्युत्-संशब्दित-अक्षरम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootविद्युत् + सं-शब्दित + अक्षर
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma (speaker)
P
paraḥ devaḥ (the Supreme Lord)
S
sat (the Real/Truth)

Educational Q&A

The verse affirms that sincere seekers approach the highest reality through different disciplines: some worship the Real (sat) via well-formed concentration (dhāraṇā), while others cultivate contemplation of the Supreme, described as radiant and imperishable. It validates multiple yogic-devotional approaches when practiced correctly.

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and liberation, Bhishma continues teaching about spiritual practice. He explains that people of different temperaments pursue the ultimate goal through distinct modes of worship and meditation, emphasizing disciplined practice rather than sectarian exclusivity.