Shloka 19
Prahlāda–Indra Saṃvāda: Kartṛtva (Agency) and Svabhāva (Nature) in the Causation of Karma
निगृहीतेन्द्रियस्यास्य कुर्वाणस्य मनो वशे । देवतास्तत् प्रकाशन्ते हृष्टा यान्ति तमीश्वरम्
nigṛhītendriyasya asya kurvāṇasya mano vaśe | devatās tat prakāśante hṛṣṭā yānti tam īśvaram ||
Bhīṣma dijo: Cuando una persona ha refrenado los sentidos y ha puesto la mente bajo su dominio, las deidades que presiden esos sentidos se vuelven radiantes de gozo; complacidas, orientan el curso de esa persona hacia el Señor. La enseñanza ética es que la disciplina interior no es mera represión, sino armonización de las facultades, de modo que las propias potencias se alineen naturalmente con el bien supremo.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Mastery over the senses and mind leads to inner clarity and alignment with the divine; when the faculties are disciplined, the powers associated with them become supportive rather than distracting, and one’s life naturally turns toward Īśvara.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and spiritual practice, Bhīṣma explains to Yudhiṣṭhira that a disciplined practitioner—who restrains the senses and governs the mind—experiences a favorable transformation: the presiding deities of the senses ‘shine’ and become pleased, inclining the person toward the Lord.