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Shloka 19

सत्य–अनृत, प्रकाश–तमस्, स्वर्ग–नरक विवेचनम्

Truth and Untruth as Light and Darkness; Svarga and Naraka as Ethical Consequences

नभश्नोर्ध्व शिरस्तस्य क्षिति: पादौ भुजी दिश: । दुर्विज्ञेयो ह्मचिन्त्यात्मा सिद्धेरपि न संशय:

nabhaś cordhvaśirās tasya kṣitiḥ pādau bhujā diśaḥ | durvijñeyo hy acintyātmā siddher api na saṁśayaḥ ||

毗湿摩说道:“上方苍穹为其首,厚土为其足,诸方为其臂。此自性不可思议,非凡情所能执取,极难得知。然而无可置疑:对已成就者而言,证悟于他并非不可能。”

नभःsky
नभः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनभस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
ऊर्ध्वम्above, upward
ऊर्ध्वम्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootऊर्ध्व
शिरःhead
शिरः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशिरस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
तस्यof him/its
तस्य:
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
क्षितिःearth
क्षितिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootक्षिति
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
पादौtwo feet
पादौ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपाद
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
भुजीtwo arms
भुजी:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभुज्
FormFeminine, Nominative, Dual
दिशःdirections (quarters)
दिशः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदिश्
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
दुर्विज्ञेयःhard to know
दुर्विज्ञेयः:
TypeAdjective
Rootदुर्विज्ञेय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अचिन्त्यात्माwhose nature is unthinkable
अचिन्त्यात्मा:
TypeAdjective
Rootअचिन्त्यात्मन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सिद्धेःthan/ from attainment (even from success)
सिद्धेः:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootसिद्धि
FormFeminine, Ablative, Singular
अपिeven, also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
संशयःdoubt
संशयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसंशय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
T
the cosmic Self (acintyātmā)
S
sky (nabhas)
E
earth (kṣiti)
D
directions (diśaḥ)

Educational Q&A

The verse presents a cosmic vision of the Supreme Self—pervading sky, earth, and all directions—stressing that this reality is beyond conceptual thought and therefore difficult to know, yet it can be realized through spiritual perfection (siddhi) and disciplined insight.

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and higher wisdom. Here he describes the all-pervading nature of the ultimate Self in cosmic imagery, emphasizing both its transcendence (hard to grasp) and the possibility of direct realization by the spiritually accomplished.