Shloka 10
Jājali’s Austerities and the Summons to Tulādhāra (जाजलि–तुलाधार-इतिहासः)
इन्द्रियाणि मन:पौरास्तदर्थ तु पराकृति: । तत्र द्वौं दारुणौ दोषौ तमो नाम रजस्तथा | तदर्थमुपजीवन्ति पौरा: सह पुरेश्वरै:,इन्द्रियाँ इस नगरमें निवास करनेवाली प्रजा हैं। वे मनरूपी मन्त्रीकी आज्ञाके अधीन रहती हैं। उन प्रजाओंकी रक्षाके लिये मनको बड़े-बड़े कार्य करने पड़ते हैं। वहाँ दो दारुण दोष हैं, जो रज और तमके नामसे प्रसिद्ध हैं। नगरके शासक मन, बुद्धि और जीव इन तीनोंके साथ समस्त पुरवासीरूप इन्द्रियगण मनके द्वारा प्रस्तुत किये हुए शब्द आदि विषयोंका उपभोग करते हैं
indriyāṇi manaḥ-paurās tad-arthaṁ tu parākṛtiḥ | tatra dvau dāruṇau doṣau tamo nāma rajas tathā || tad-artham upajīvanti paurāḥ saha pureśvaraiḥ |
Vyāsa said: The senses are like the citizens of the city, and the mind (manas) is their minister; they act under that minister’s command. To guard and sustain those citizens, the mind is driven to mighty exertions. Yet within that city dwell two dreadful faults, called tamas and rajas. Leaning on these, the citizens (the senses), together with the rulers of the city, live by enjoying the objects—sound and the rest—set forth by the mind.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches an inner-ethical model: the senses function like citizens governed by the mind, but the polity is corrupted by the two harsh defects—Rajas (restless craving) and Tamas (delusion/inertia). Mastery of life therefore requires recognizing how these guṇas drive sense-enjoyment and cultivating restraint and clarity.
Vyāsa continues an allegorical instruction in Śānti Parva, describing the inner person as a city: senses are inhabitants, the mind acts as a governing minister, and the city is troubled by Rajas and Tamas. The image explains how sense-objects (sound, etc.) are enjoyed through the mind’s presentation, shaping bondage or discipline.