Shloka 25
Udyoga Parva, Adhyaya 31 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Instructions to Sañjaya
Peace Appeal and Five-Village Proposal
चक्षु:श्रोत्रे नासिका त्वक् च जिद्दा ज्ञानस्यैतान्यायतनानि जन््तो: । तानि प्रीतान्येव तृष्णाक्षयान्ते तान्यव्यथो दुःखहीन: प्रणुद्यात्,आँख, कान, नाक, त्वचा तथा जिह्ठा--ये पाँच ज्ञानेन्द्रियाँ समस्त प्राणियोंके रूप आदि विषयोंके ज्ञानके स्थान (कारण) हैं। तृष्णाका अन्त होनेके पश्चात् ये सदा प्रसन्न ही रहती हैं। अतः मनुष्यको चाहिये कि वह व्यथा और दु:खसे रहित हो तृष्णाकी निवृत्तिके लिये उन इन्द्रियोंको अपने वशमें करे
sañjaya uvāca |
cakṣuḥ-śrotre nāsikā tvak ca jihvā jñānasyaitāny āyatanāni jantoḥ |
tāni prītāny eva tṛṣṇākṣayānte tāny avyatho duḥkhahīnaḥ praṇudyāt ||
Sañjaya said: “The eye and ear, the nose, the skin, and the tongue—these are the seats through which a living being gains knowledge of sense-objects. When craving is brought to an end, these faculties remain naturally calm and content. Therefore, free from inner agitation and suffering, one should restrain and drive back the senses so that craving may cease.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches indriya-nigraha (restraint of the senses) as a practical means to end tṛṣṇā (craving). When craving ceases, the senses become naturally settled; thus one should, without inner turmoil, curb their outward rush toward objects.
Sañjaya is presenting a reflective, ethical instruction within Udyoga Parva’s counsel-oriented context, emphasizing inner discipline—control of the five sense-faculties—as foundational for freedom from suffering.