Shloka 29
धर्मस्य बहुद्वारत्वम् — Nārada’s Audience with Indra (Śānti-parva 340)
जगत्प्रतिष्ठा देवर्षे पृथिव्यप्सु प्रलीयते । ज्योतिष्याप: प्रलीयन्ते ज्योतिर्वायौ प्रलीयते,'देवर्ष! यह सम्पूर्ण जगत् जिसपर प्रतिष्ठित है, वह पृथ्वी जलमें विलीन हो जाती है। जलका तेजमें और तेजका वायुमें लय होता है
jagatpratiṣṭhā devarṣe pṛthivy apsu pralīyate | jyotiṣy āpaḥ pralīyante jyotir vāyau pralīyate |
毗湿摩说道：“噢，天仙圣者！大地——整个世界所依立之处——将溶归于水；水复归于光明（火）；而那光明又归于风。由此可知，看似最坚实、最可凭恃者亦属因缘所系，在宇宙大毁灭中趋向更为微妙的本原。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma highlights the impermanence of even the world’s apparent foundations: earth dissolves into water, water into light/fire, and light into wind. The ethical implication in Śānti Parva is to cultivate detachment and clarity—recognizing that worldly supports are transient and that wisdom lies in aligning oneself with the deeper order beyond changing forms.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction to the inquiring sage (addressed as ‘devarṣi’), Bhīṣma explains a cosmological sequence of dissolution (pralaya), moving from gross to subtler elements. The verse is part of a didactic exposition rather than an action scene, using elemental absorption to ground teachings on renunciation and insight.