Shloka 19
Adhyāya 302: Guṇa-vicāra, Gati-bheda, and the Imperishable State
Yājñavalkya–Janaka
सांख्ये च पल्यते शास्त्रे नामभिरबहुधात्मक: । विचित्ररूपो विश्वात्मा एकाक्षर इति स्मृत:
sāṅkhye ca palyate śāstre nāmabhir bahudhātmakaḥ | vicitrarūpo viśvātmā ekākṣara iti smṛtaḥ ||
婆悉吒说道：“在数论（Sāṅkhya）的教义中，那一真实亦被说为具多种面向、以多种名号而知。人们忆念它为形相奇妙的唯一者、宇宙之我（世界之魂），以及‘唯一不坏之音节’。虽以无量名与相而显现，它仍是一体遍满的根本原则：既生起三界，又遍入三界；因此被理解为具一切形相的宇宙大有。”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the ultimate Reality is one, yet spoken of in many ways: it is called the cosmic Self and the imperishable ‘single syllable.’ Diversity of names and forms does not contradict unity; rather, the One appears manifold while remaining all-pervading.
Vasiṣṭha is instructing his listener in a philosophical context within Śānti Parva, aligning Sāṅkhya discourse with broader Mahābhārata teaching: the supreme principle is described through multiple epithets to guide understanding of creation and pervasion.