Shloka 9
Śuka–Janaka Saṃvāda: Āśrama-krama, Jñāna-vijñāna, and the Marks of Liberation (शुक-जनक संवादः)
प्राणमध्यात्ममित्याहुर्यथा श्रुतिनिदर्शिन: । गन्ध एवाधिभूतं तु पृथिवी चाधिदेवतम्
prāṇam adhyātmam ity āhur yathā śrutinidarśinaḥ | gandha evādhibhūtaṃ tu pṛthivī cādhidaivatam ||
阎若婆迦说道：“真正通达吠陀启示旨趣者宣说：在此三分对应之中，普拉那（prāṇa）为内在原则（adhyātma）；香气为元素性的对象（adhibhūta）；而大地为主宰的神圣权能（adhidaivata）。” 由此他教人以伦理与观照来解读经验——把它视为一套协调的秩序，联结自我、世界，以及自然之中神圣的统摄。
याज़्वल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a Vedic-style correspondence: inner life-force (prāṇa) is the adhyātma (subjective/inner) principle; smell (gandha) is the adhibhūta (objective/elemental) aspect; and Earth (pṛthivī) is the adhidaivata (presiding divine principle). It frames perception and existence as an ordered unity of self, world, and divine regulation.
In Śānti Parva’s instructional discourse, Yājñavalkya is explaining metaphysical classifications drawn from Śruti. He presents a specific triad to guide the listener toward disciplined understanding of how bodily functions and sensory objects relate to cosmic and divine principles.