Shloka 22
Utkramaṇa-sthāna and Ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇa: Yājñavalkya’s Instruction on Departure Pathways and Mortality Signs
निरिन्द्रियस्याबीजस्य निर्द्रव्यस्याप्पयदेहिन: । कथं गुणा भविष्यन्ति निर्गुणत्वान्महात्मन:,परंतु परमात्मा तो इन्द्रिय, बीज, द्रव्य और देहसे रहित तथा निर्गुण है; अतः उसमें गुण कैसे हो सकते हैं
nirindriyasya bījasya nirdravyasyāpy adehinaḥ | kathaṃ guṇā bhaviṣyanti nirguṇatvān mahātmanaḥ ||
婆悉吒说道：“若至上之我（至上自性）无诸根、无种子（因）、无物质资具，乃至无身，则在那大者之中，诸德性如何得以生起？以其本性本即超越一切德性故。”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse argues that the Supreme Self (Paramātman/Brahman) is intrinsically nirguṇa—beyond material qualities and the guṇas of prakṛti. Since It is not an embodied, sense-based, material entity and is not produced from a causal “seed,” ordinary attributes cannot properly be predicated of It.
In the Śānti Parva’s philosophical instruction, Vasiṣṭha is clarifying the nature of the Supreme Reality. He challenges any attempt to ascribe worldly qualities to the Paramātman by pointing out that qualities depend on embodiment, materiality, and causal origination—none of which apply to the Supreme.