Shloka 17
Vidyā–Avidyā and the Twenty-Fifth Principle
Sāṃkhya–Yoga Clarification
यक्षराक्षसगन्धर्वा: सिद्धाश्षान्ये दिवौकस: । संसिद्धास्तपसा तात ये चान्ये स्वर्गवासिन:
yakṣa-rākṣasa-gandharvāḥ siddhāś cānye divaukasaḥ | saṃsiddhās tapasā tāta ye cānye svarga-vāsinaḥ ||
Parāśara nói: “Các Yakṣa, Rākṣasa, Gandharva và Siddha, cùng những chúng sinh cõi trời khác—những bậc đã thành tựu nhờ khổ hạnh, hỡi con yêu, và hết thảy những ai cư ngụ nơi thiên giới—(đều được kể vào đây).”
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores a graded cosmic order in which various non-human and celestial classes exist, and highlights tapas (austerity/discipline) as a recognized means of spiritual ‘perfection’ (saṃsiddhi), even among heavenly residents.
Parāśara is enumerating categories of beings—Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Gandharvas, Siddhas, and other heaven-dwellers—broadening the scope of his discourse to include multiple celestial and semi-celestial communities, especially those said to be perfected through austerities.