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Bhīṣma said.
O son, once more listen to the enumeration of the qualities of beings, as praised and narrated by Dvaipāyana, O sinless one of supreme virtue.
The venerable one, shining like fire, spoke to Dhūmravarcas. Then, my son, I too will again give an example.
The qualities of earth are steadiness, expansiveness, hardness, generative nature, smell, heaviness, power, aggregation, support, and firmness.
The qualities of water are coldness, taste, moisture, fluidity, unctuousness, and gentleness; the tongue is that which flows, and likewise, exudation pertains to earth and water.
The qualities of Agni are invincibility, brilliance, heat, ripening, illumination, purity, color, lightness, sharpness, the tenth, and upward movement.
The qualities of wind are lack of restraint, touch, the source of sound, independence, strength, swiftness, delusion, activity, and existence arising from actions.
The qualities of space are sound, pervasiveness, having holes, being without support, without resting on anything, unmanifest, and unchangeable.
Non-obstructiveness, elemental nature, and modifications are the fifty qualities said to be endowed with the nature of the five elements.
Movement, origination, manifestation, emission, imagination, forbearance, existence, non-existence, and swiftness are indeed the nine qualities of the mind.
Here, in the intellect, the five qualities are: desire, aversion, alternation, determination, concentration, doubt, and understanding.
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O grandsire, tell me all this subtle knowledge: How are the fivefold qualities of intellect, and how are the qualities of the five senses?
Bhīṣma said.
It is said that there are sixty elemental qualities; those endowed with elements are always bound to them. Those bound to the elements are created from the imperishable. O son, that is not considered eternal here.
That son, whose mind is troubled by what has been said and what has come to your mind, is now here. Having realized the true nature of all reality, be of peaceful mind, free from the influence of beings.
