Shloka 17

मनुरुवाच — इन्द्रिय-मनः-ज्ञान-क्रमः

Manu on the hierarchy of senses, mind, and knowledge

Devanagari script

फिर बुद्धिके द्वारा परब्रह्म परमात्माका ध्यान करे तथा सर्व-हितकारिणी वेदसंहिताका एवं प्रणव और गायत्री मन्त्रका जप करे। फिर समाधिमें स्थित होनेपर उस संहिता एवं गायत्री मन्त्र आदिके जपको भी त्याग दे ।। ध्यानमुत्पादयत्यत्र संहिताबलसंश्रयात्‌ । शुद्धात्मा तपसा दान्तो निवृत्तद्वेषकामवान्‌

Transliteration

dhyānam utpādayaty atra saṁhitā-bala-saṁśrayāt | śuddhātmā tapasā dānto nivṛtta-dveṣa-kāmavān ||

Translation

Bhīṣma explains that, supported by the power of Vedic recitation, a seeker generates inner contemplation. Purified in mind, disciplined through tapas, self-controlled, and withdrawn from hatred and desire, he becomes fit for deep meditation—eventually even letting go of reliance on repeated formulas as absorption becomes steady.

Word by Word

• {'dhyānam': 'meditation

• sustained contemplative focus', 'utpādayati': 'produces

• generates', 'atra': 'here

• in this practice/context', 'saṁhitā': 'Vedic collection/recitation

• the Saṁhitā portion of the Veda', 'bala': 'strength

• efficacy', 'saṁśrayāt': 'by resorting to

• taking refuge in', 'śuddhātmā': 'one whose inner self/mind is purified', 'tapasā': 'by austerity

• by disciplined effort/ascetic practice', 'dāntaḥ': 'self-controlled

• restrained (especially of senses)', 'nivṛtta': 'turned back

• ceased', 'dveṣa': 'hatred

• aversion', 'kāma': 'desire

• craving', 'kāmavān': 'possessing desire (here understood as one who has dealt with/withdrawn from desire in practice, i.e., no longer driven by it)'}

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma (speaker)
• Saṁhitā (Vedic recitation/collection)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Meditation is stabilized by disciplined life: purity of mind, austerity, and sense-restraint, along with withdrawing from hatred and desire. Vedic recitation can serve as a support to generate contemplation, but the mature aim is steady absorption that is not dependent on external repetition.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma is teaching a method of inner practice: the seeker uses the strength of sacred recitation to kindle meditation, while cultivating ethical purification and restraint, preparing for deeper yogic absorption.