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Shloka 42

Vyaktāvyakta-Viveka and Nivṛtti as Paramā Gati

Manifest–Unmanifest Discrimination and the Supreme Path of Withdrawal

अग्निर्यथा हुपायेन मथित्वा दारु दृश्यते । तथैवात्मा शरीरस्थो योगेनैवात्र दृश्यते

agnir yathā upāyena mathitvā dāru dṛśyate | tathaivātmā śarīrastho yogenaivātra dṛśyate ||

Bhīṣma erläutert: Wie Feuer, obwohl es das Holz durchdringt, nicht sichtbar wird, bis man das Holz nach der rechten Methode reibt, so ist auch das im Körper wohnende Selbst nicht unmittelbar zu sehen; hier wird es allein durch Yoga verwirklicht. Die ethische Lehre lautet: Innere Wahrheit wird nicht durch bloße äußere Beobachtung oder Streitgespräch erfasst, sondern durch disziplinierte Übung, die offenbart, was bereits da ist.

अग्निःfire
अग्निः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअग्नि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
यथाjust as
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
उपायेनby a means/method
उपायेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootउपाय
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
मथित्वाhaving churned/ rubbed (by friction)
मथित्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootमथ्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)
दारुin the wood
दारु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootदारु
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
दृश्यतेis seen/appears
दृश्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormPresent, Indicative, Atmanepada (passive sense), Third, Singular
तथाso/in the same way
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
एवindeed/only
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
आत्माthe Self
आत्मा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शरीरस्थःsituated in the body
शरीरस्थः:
TypeAdjective
Rootशरीरस्थ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
योगेनby yoga
योगेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootयोग
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
एवonly
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
अत्रhere/in this (context)
अत्र:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअत्र
दृश्यतेis seen/is perceived
दृश्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormPresent, Indicative, Atmanepada (passive sense), Third, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
A
agni (fire)
D
dāru (wood)
Ā
ātman (Self)
Ś
śarīra (body)
Y
yoga

Educational Q&A

The Self is present within the body but is not an object of ordinary perception; it is made manifest through yoga, just as fire hidden in wood is revealed by the right method of churning.

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on liberation-oriented dharma; here he uses a practical analogy (fire in wood) to clarify how spiritual discipline leads to direct realization of the indwelling Self.