Shloka 16
Jvarotpatti — The Origin and Distribution of Jvara
Fever
चित्तमिन्द्रियसंघातात् परं तस्मात् परं मन: । मनसस्तु परा बुद्धि: क्षेत्रज्ञो बुद्धित: पर:
cittam indriyasaṅghātāt paraṃ tasmāt paraṃ manaḥ | manasas tu parā buddhiḥ kṣetrajño buddhitaḥ paraḥ ||
阿悉多说道：“名为心识（citta）的内在觉照，高于仅由身与诸根所成的聚合。高于心识者为意（manas）；高于意者为慧（buddhi）；而高于慧者，则为田知者（kṣetrajña）——内在之觉知者。此教导人越过感知与思虑这些变易之器，寻求真实之我，使伦理之行立基于自知，而非随逐诸根之冲动。”
असित उवाच
Educational Q&A
A graded hierarchy is taught: the sensory-body aggregate is surpassed by citta, which is surpassed by manas, which is surpassed by buddhi; beyond all these instruments stands the kṣetrajña, the conscious knower. Ethical steadiness comes from identifying with the knower rather than being driven by sensory and mental fluctuations.
In the Shanti Parva’s instructional setting, the sage Asita delivers a philosophical teaching on the inner constitution of a person, distinguishing the senses, mind, intellect, and the witnessing self to guide the listener toward liberation-oriented understanding and disciplined conduct.