Shloka 10

Adhyātma–Adhibhūta–Adhidaivata Correspondences and the Triguṇa Lakṣaṇas (Śānti-parva 301)

Devanagari script

आयुषश्नच परं कालं॑ लोके विज्ञाय तत्त्वत: । सुखस्य च परं तत्त्वं विज्ञाय वदतां वर

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | āyuṣaś ca paraṃ kālaṃ loke vijñāya tattvataḥ | sukhasya ca paraṃ tattvaṃ vijñāya vadatāṃ vara ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“善说之最者啊，若能于此世如实洞见寿命与时限之极致，又了知安乐之最高原理，便能如其本然地衡量一切经验——看清世间享乐的所及与所限，并使智慧转向那超越苦恼的道路。”

Word by Word

• आयुषः: of lifespan
• आयुषः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• परम्: supreme; highest
• परम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कालम्: time; period
• कालम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• विज्ञाय: having known; understanding
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ज्ञा
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• तत्त्वतः: in truth; correctly; as it really is
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्त्वतः

• सुखस्य: of happiness
• सुखस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• परम्: supreme; highest
• परम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तत्त्वम्: principle; reality; essence
• तत्त्वम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विज्ञाय: having known; understanding
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ज्ञा
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• वदताम्: of speakers; of those who speak
• वदताम्: Sambandha
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine/Neuter (collective sense), Genitive, Plural

• वर: O best (one)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True wisdom begins with realistic discernment: understanding the limits of lifespan and time, and grasping what happiness ultimately is. This insight supports ethical clarity and motivates a shift from transient sense-pleasures toward liberating knowledge (jñāna) and disciplined practice (yoga).

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and liberation-oriented wisdom. Here he frames the discussion by praising the knower who has correctly understood time, mortality, and the highest principle of happiness—setting the stage for deeper analysis of worldly experience and the paths of sāṅkhya and yoga.