Shloka 17

Mokṣa-dharma Yoga-Upadeśa: Equanimity, Sense-Restraint, and Vision of the Ātman (आत्मदर्शन-योगोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

इन्द्रियाणि तु संहृत्य मन आत्मनि धारयेत्‌ | तीव्र तप्त्वा तप: पूर्व मोक्षयोगं समाचरेत्‌,इन्द्रियोंको विषयोंकी ओरसे हटाकर मनमें और मनको आत्मामें स्थापित करे। इस प्रकार पहले तीव्र तपस्या करके फिर मोक्षोपयोगी उपायका अवलम्बन करना चाहिये

Transliteration

indriyāṇi tu saṁhṛtya mana ātmāni dhārayet | tīvraṁ taptvā tapaḥ pūrvaṁ mokṣayogaṁ samācaret |

Translation

The Brāhmaṇa said: Having withdrawn the senses from their outward objects, one should steady the mind within, and establish that mind in the Self. After first undertaking intense austerity (tapas) to purify and discipline oneself, one should then practice the discipline that leads toward liberation—choosing the path of release over the pull of sense-pleasures.

Word by Word

इन्द्रियाणिthe senses

तुbut/indeed

संहृत्यhaving withdrawn/collected

मनःthe mind

आत्मनिin the Self

धारयेत्should hold/should fix

तीव्रम्intense(ly)

तप्त्वाhaving practiced (austerity)/having heated (oneself)

तपःausterity/penance

पूर्वम्first/beforehand

मोक्षयोगम्the discipline/path to liberation

समाचरेत्should practice/should undertake

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

ब

ब्राह्मण (Brāhmaṇa speaker)

आ

आत्मन् (the Self)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Restrain the senses, steady the mind, and anchor it in the Self; then, after purifying discipline through intense tapas, practice the liberating path (mokṣa-yoga). The ethical thrust is mastery over desire and a deliberate turn toward liberation.

What is happening in the narrative?

A Brāhmaṇa speaker delivers an instruction on spiritual practice: first sense-withdrawal and mental stabilization, then rigorous austerity, culminating in the sustained pursuit of mokṣa-yoga.