Adhyāya 352: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Saṃvāda — Uñchavrata-niścaya
Dialogue and the Resolve to Practice Uñchavrata
आधार तु प्रवक्ष्यामि एकस्य पुरुषस्य ते । बहूनां पुरुषाणां स यथैका योनिरुच्यते
ādhāraṃ tu pravakṣyāmi ekasya puruṣasya te | bahūnāṃ puruṣāṇāṃ sa yathaikā yonir ucyate ||
毗湿摩说道:“我现在将为你阐明那根本的依止——唯一的至上之人——他支撑一切。那唯一的真实如何被称为众多个体之人的唯一源头与唯一胎藏,我将为你分说。”
पितामह उवाच
Bhīṣma introduces a metaphysical doctrine: behind the multiplicity of individual persons stands a single foundational Reality (puruṣa) that is the support of all and is described as the one causal source (yoni) of the many.
In the Mokṣa/Dharma instruction of Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma transitions into an explanation to his listener about the ultimate ground of existence—how the One relates to the many—setting up a teaching on origin, support, and the unity underlying plurality.