Shloka 8
प्रजापतयः देवगणाश्च दिशि-दिशि स्थिताः ऋषयः
Prajāpatis, Deva-Groups, and the Ṛṣis Assigned to the Directions
ऋषक््सामसंघांश्व यजूंषि चापि च्छन्दांसि नक्षत्रगतिं निरुक्तम् | अधीत्य च व्याकरणं सकल्पं शिक्षां च भूतप्रकृतिं न वेझि
ṛk-sāma-saṁghānś ca yajūṁṣi cāpi chandāṁsi nakṣatra-gatiṁ niruktam | adhītya ca vyākaraṇaṁ sa-kalpaṁ śikṣāṁ ca bhūta-prakṛtiṁ na vetsi ||
毗湿摩说道：“我研习过《梨俱》《娑摩》诸赞颂之集，也学过《夜柔》诸祭式之辞，并通晓《韵律》(Chandas，亦指阿闼婆之传统)。我又学习星辰运行之道、词源释义(Nirukta)与语法，并兼修仪轨(Kalpa)与发音诵读之学(Śikṣā)。然而纵使如此博学，我仍未真正了知诸大元素——如虚空等——其原初的物质因(优波陀那因)。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma highlights that mastery of sacred texts and auxiliary sciences (Vedas, Vedāṅgas, astronomy) does not automatically yield realization of ultimate reality; true wisdom requires insight into the fundamental cause and nature of the elements, not merely accumulated learning.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhishma speaks as a teacher reflecting on the scope and limits of his own extensive education, using his confession of not knowing the ‘bhūta-prakṛti’ to steer the discussion toward deeper metaphysical understanding beyond ritual and linguistic expertise.