Shloka 90
Adhyātma–Adhibhūta–Adhidaivata Correspondences and the Triguṇa Lakṣaṇas (Śānti-parva 301)
इन्द्रियाणीह सर्वाणि स्वे स्वे स्थाने यथाविधि । अनीशत्वात् प्रलीयन्ते सर्पा हतविषा इव,फिर सुषुप्ति-अवस्था होनेपर विषय-ज्ञानमें असमर्थ हुई सम्पूर्ण इन्द्रियाँ अपने-अपने स्थानमें उसी प्रकार विधिवत् लीन हो जाती हैं, जैसे विषहीन सर्प (भयसे) छिपे रहते हैं
indriyāṇīha sarvāṇi sve sve sthāne yathāvidhi | anīśatvāt pralīyante sarpā hataviṣā iva ||
Bhīṣma said: “Here, all the senses, each in its own proper seat and in due order, subside and dissolve because they no longer have power to act—just as snakes whose venom has been destroyed lie hidden, unable to harm. In the state of deep sleep, the senses become incapable of grasping their objects and therefore withdraw into their respective bases.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When the senses lose operative power—most clearly in deep sleep—they withdraw into their own bases and cease engaging with objects. The simile of venomless snakes highlights that without their effective power, the senses cannot ‘bite’ the world of sense-objects; this supports the ethical ideal of sense-restraint and inner withdrawal.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction, Bhīṣma is explaining a psychological/ontological process: during suṣupti (deep sleep) the faculties of perception and action become incapable of object-knowledge and therefore subside into their respective seats, illustrated by the image of snakes rendered harmless by loss of venom.