Shloka 20
Doṣa-Parīkṣā and Guṇa-Viveka
Examination of Faults and Discernment of the Guṇas
गुणहीनो हि त॑ मार्ग बहि: समनुवर्तते । गुणाभावात् प्रकृत्या वा निस्तर्क्य ज्ञेयसम्मितम्
guṇahīno hi taṁ mārgaṁ bahiḥ samanuvartate | guṇābhāvāt prakṛtyā vā nistarkyaṁ jñeyasammitam ||
毗湿摩说：“无德之人只循外相之道，终究停留在外。然至上我——作为究竟所知——超越诸‘德’（guṇa）；故依其本性，非凭徒然推理所能及，亦非推理所能量。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
External observances without inner virtues keep one on an ‘outer path.’ The ultimate reality (Paramatman), being beyond the guṇas, cannot be captured by argument alone; it is approached through inner purification, disciplined practice, and direct realization rather than mere debate.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhishma continues his discourse on dharma and spiritual attainment, contrasting superficial religiosity with genuine inner transformation and pointing to the transcendence of the Supreme Self beyond conceptual reasoning.