Shloka 41
Vyaktāvyakta-Viveka and Nivṛtti as Paramā Gati
Manifest–Unmanifest Discrimination and the Supreme Path of Withdrawal
अग्निदरिंगतो यद्वद् भिन्ने दारौ न दृश्यते । तथैवात्मा शरीरस्थो योगेनैवानुदृश्यते
agnir dāru-gato yadvat bhinne dārau na dṛśyate | tathaivātmā śarīra-stho yogenaivānudṛśyate ||
Bhīṣma erläutert: So wie Feuer, obwohl es ein Stück Holz durchdringt, selbst beim Spalten des Holzes nicht sichtbar wird, so wohnt auch das Selbst im Körper und ist doch nicht unmittelbar zu sehen. Es wird nur durch Yoga erfasst—durch disziplinierte innere Übung, die das Innewohnende offenbar macht, wie Feuer im Holz durch geeignete Mittel sichtbar wird.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The Self is present within the body but is not an object of ordinary perception; it is realized through yoga—disciplined practice that refines attention and insight—just as hidden fire in wood becomes evident only through the proper method.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on peace and liberation, Bhīṣma is teaching Yudhiṣṭhira about inner knowledge: he uses a concrete analogy (fire hidden in wood) to clarify why the ātman is not seen by mere physical examination and why yogic practice is required for direct realization.