Shloka 23
Mokṣa-dharma Yoga-Upadeśa: Equanimity, Sense-Restraint, and Vision of the Ātman (आत्मदर्शन-योगोपदेशः)
मुछ्जं शरीरमित्याहुरिषीकामात्मनि श्रिताम् । एतन्निदर्शनं प्रोक्तं योगविद्धिरनुत्तमम्,यहाँ शरीरको मूँज कहा गया है और आत्माको सींक। योगवेत्ताओंने देह और आत्माके पार्थक्यको समझनेके लिये यह बहुत उत्तम दृष्टान्त दिया है
muñjaṃ śarīram ity āhur ṛṣīkām ātmani śritām | etan nidarśanaṃ proktaṃ yogaviddhir anuttamam ||
Der Brāhmaṇa sprach: „Man erklärt den Körper für dem Muñja-Gras gleich, das Selbst aber für die innere Faser (das Mark), die darin ruht. Dieses Gleichnis haben die Kenner des Yoga als höchstes Mittel gelehrt, um den Unterschied zwischen Körper und Selbst zu erkennen.“
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches viveka—discriminating the Self from the body—through an analogy: the body is like the outer muñja-grass, while the true Self is like the subtle inner pith. Ethical clarity and freedom from attachment arise when one stops identifying the impermanent body as the Self.
A Brāhmaṇa speaker instructs by offering a yogic illustration. He presents a traditional example used by yogic authorities to help listeners grasp the separateness of the embodied frame and the indwelling Self, guiding the audience toward inner detachment and right understanding.