Shloka 86

मनुरुवाच — इन्द्रिय-मनः-ज्ञान-क्रमः

Manu on the hierarchy of senses, mind, and knowledge

Devanagari script

मार्गो तावप्युभावेतौ संश्रितौ न च संश्रितौ । उपनिषदोंके वाक्य निर्वत्ति (परमानन्द), शान्ति तथा ब्रह्मनिष्ठताका बोध करानेवाले हैं (अतः वहाँ जपकी अपेक्षा नहीं है)। समदर्शी मुनियोंने जो सांख्य और योग बताये हैं, वे दोनों मार्ग चित्तशुद्धिके द्वारा ज्ञानप्राप्तिमें उपकारक होनेसे जपका आश्रय लेते हैं, नहीं भी लेते हैं

Transliteration

mārgo tāv apy ubhāv etau saṁśritau na ca saṁśritau |

Translation

Bhishma said: “These two paths may be followed with reliance (on a supporting discipline) and also without such reliance. The Upanishadic statements themselves convey the realization of the Supreme Bliss, peace, and steadfastness in Brahman—there, no dependence on repetitive practice is required. But the Sāṅkhya and Yoga taught by even-sighted sages, being helpful for attaining knowledge through purification of the mind, may take recourse to disciplined repetition (japa), and may also proceed without it.”

Word by Word

• {'mārgaḥ': 'path

• spiritual way', 'tāv': 'those two

• both (in reference)', 'api': 'also

• even', 'ubhau': 'both (two)', 'etau': 'these two', 'saṁśritau': 'resorted to

• dependent upon', 'na ca': 'and not

• nor', 'upaniṣad-vākya': 'Upanishadic statements

• mahāvākyas conveying Brahman-knowledge', 'nirvṛtti': 'cessation

• final beatitude (here: realization culminating in supreme bliss)', 'paramānanda': 'supreme bliss', 'śānti': 'peace

• tranquility', 'brahma-niṣṭhatā': 'steadfast abidance in Brahman', 'bodha': 'knowledge

• understanding', 'samadarśin': 'one who sees equally

• impartial seer', 'muni': 'sage

• contemplative', 'sāṅkhya': 'path of discriminative knowledge/analysis', 'yoga': 'path of disciplined integration/meditation', 'citta-śuddhi': 'purification of the mind', 'jñāna-prāpti': 'attainment of knowledge', 'upakāraka': 'helpful

• conducive', 'japa': 'repetition (of mantra/name)

• disciplined recitation', 'āśraya': 'support

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Upanishads
• Sāṅkhya
• Yoga
• munis (sages)
• Brahman

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma explains that Sāṅkhya and Yoga are two valid approaches that can be practiced with auxiliary supports like japa or, in some cases, without them. Direct Upanishadic insight is presented as self-sufficient for awakening to supreme bliss, peace, and abiding in Brahman; whereas for many seekers, practices that purify the mind (including japa) can be valuable aids toward knowledge.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on liberation and right living, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira by comparing spiritual disciplines. He clarifies how different methods—Upanishadic wisdom, Sāṅkhya analysis, and Yogic practice—relate to one another and how supportive practices like japa may function as means for mental purification leading to realization.