Shloka 5
मनस्–बुद्धि–गुणविचारः (Manas–Buddhi–Guṇa Inquiry) — Meditation and Nirguṇa Realization
चतुर्णा लोकपालानां शुक्रस्याथ बृहस्पते: । मसरुतां विश्वदेवानां साध्यानामश्चिनोरपि
caturṇāṃ lokapālānāṃ śukrasyātha bṛhaspateḥ | marutāṃ viśvadevāṇāṃ sādhyānām aśvinor api, tāta! varuṇa-kubera-indra-yamarāja—eteṣāṃ caturṇāṃ lokapālānāṃ, śukra-bṛhaspati-marudgaṇa-viśvedeva-sādhya-aśvinīkumāra-rudra-āditya-vasu-tathānyadevatānāṃ ca ye tathāvidhā lokāḥ, te sarve paramātmano paramadhāmasya samakṣaṃ naraka eva |
毗湿摩说道：“爱子啊，四方护世者——伐楼那、俱毗罗、因陀罗与阎摩——之诸界，以及舒克罗与布里哈斯帕提之界、马鲁特众、毗湿毗天、萨提耶与阿湿毗尼双神之界；乃至鲁陀罗、阿底提耶、婆苏及其他诸神之境——纵然尊胜——与至上我（Paramātman）之最高住处相比，皆不过如地狱一般。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the highest celestial realms—those of major gods and divine hosts—are ultimately inferior when set against the Supreme Self’s highest abode; therefore one should not mistake heavenly attainment for the final good, but orient one’s life toward liberation and the supreme state.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction section, Bhīṣma addresses the listener affectionately (“tāta”) and emphasizes a hierarchy of goals: he lists renowned divine realms and declares that, compared to the Supreme’s abode, they are as nothing—using ‘hell’ as a stark metaphor to redirect aspiration from worldly or heavenly reward to the highest spiritual end.