Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

राक्षसान्‌ विषयान ज्ञात्वा यक्षाणां विषयांस्तथा | विषयानौरगान ज्ञात्वा गान्धर्वविषयांस्तथा

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | rākṣasān viṣayān jñātvā yakṣāṇāṁ viṣayāṁs tathā | viṣayān auragān jñātvā gāndharva-viṣayāṁs tathā ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“大王啊，若能如实了知罗刹之众的‘所缘境’——欲望与享受之域——亦同样了知夜叉之境；又了知那伽龙族之境与乾闼婆之境，便能衡量此等享乐的强处与过失。由此分别智生起离欲，心志更清明地趋向那条超越诸根境界之暴政的解脱之道。”

Word by Word

• राक्षसान्: Rakshasas (as objects)
• राक्षसान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विषयान्: domains/objects (of experience)
• विषयान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral), Non-finite

• यक्षाणाम्: of the Yakshas
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• विषयान्: domains/objects
• विषयान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तथा: and likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• विषयान्: domains/objects
• विषयान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• औरगान्: serpentine beings (Nāgas)
• औरगान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: औरग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral), Non-finite

• गान्धर्व-विषयान्: Gandharva-domains/objects
• गान्धर्व-विषयान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्धर्वविषय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तथा: and likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Rākṣasas
• Yakṣas
• Nāgas (serpent-kind)
• Gandharvas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

To cultivate discernment (viveka) by understanding the nature of sense-objects (viṣaya) across different orders of beings; seeing their limitations and defects supports detachment and steadiness on the liberating path (Sāṅkhya/Yoga).

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs the king in higher dharma and liberation-oriented wisdom. Here he begins/continues a catalog of various beings’ ‘spheres of enjoyment,’ using it to frame a teaching on evaluating desire and moving toward mokṣa.