Shloka 17
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
नेत्राभ्यां नेत्रयोरस्य रश्मीन् संयम्य रश्मिभि: । सा सम तं चोदयिष्यन्ती योगबन्धैर्बबन्ध ह
netrābhyāṁ netrayor asya raśmīn saṁyamya raśmibhiḥ | sā sam taṁ codayiṣyantī yogabandhair babandha ha ||
Bhishma said: With the rays of her own eyes she restrained the rays of his eyes. Then, intending to prompt him to speak, she bound him with the fetters of yoga—subduing his mind by spiritual power—so that he came under her control, as King Janaka prepared to put his question.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights yogic mastery as disciplined restraint: control of the senses (symbolized by the eyes and their ‘rays’) leads to control of the mind, enabling focused inquiry and purposeful speech rather than impulsive reaction.
As King Janaka is ready to ask a question, a woman (implied by ‘she’) uses yogic power to restrain him—metaphorically and narratively described as binding his mind by controlling the ‘rays’ of his eyes—so that he becomes composed and responsive to being prompted.