Shloka 40
Saṃhāra-krama (The Sequence of Cosmic Dissolution) — Yājñavalkya’s Discourse
स्थानेष्वेतेषु यो योगी महाव्रतसमाहित: । आत्मना सूक्ष्ममात्मानं युद्धक्ते सम्यग्विशाम्पते,अमित पराक्रमी नरेश! योगके महान् व्रतमें एकाग्रचित्त रहनेवाला जो योगी नाभि, कण्ठ, मस्तक, हृदय, वक्षःस्थल, पार्श्रभाग, नेत्र, कान और नासिका आदि स्थानोंमें धारणाके द्वारा सूक्ष्म आत्माको परमात्माके साथ भलीभाँति संयुक्त करता है, वह यदि इच्छा करे तो अपने पर्वताकार विशाल शुभाशुभ कर्मोंको शीघ्र ही भस्म करके उत्तम योगका आश्रय लेकर मुक्त हो जाता है
sthāneṣv eteṣu yo yogī mahāvrata-samāhitaḥ | ātmanā sūkṣmam ātmānaṁ yujyate samyag viśāṁ-pate ||
Bhishma said: “O lord of the people, a yogin who is steadfast in the great vow and firmly collected in mind, unites the subtle self with the Supreme Self by sustained concentration at these bodily stations (such as the navel, throat, head, heart, chest, sides, eyes, ears, and nose). If he so wills, he can swiftly burn up his vast, mountain-like accumulations of auspicious and inauspicious deeds; taking refuge in the highest yoga, he attains liberation.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Through disciplined vows and one-pointed concentration (dhāraṇā) at specific inner loci, the yogin unites the subtle self with the Supreme; this higher yoga can rapidly consume accumulated good and bad karma, culminating in liberation.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to the king, Bhishma continues his exposition on yogic practice and liberation, describing how a focused ascetic uses meditative concentration to transcend karmic accumulation and attain moksha.