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Shloka 22

नारद–शुक संवादः (Nārada–Śuka Dialogue): Tyāga, Saṃyama, and Vyakta–Avyakta Viveka

तैलपात्रं यथा पूर्ण कराभ्यां गृह पूरुष: । सोपानमारुहेद्‌ भीतस्तर्ज्यमानो 5डसिपाणिभि:

tailapātraṃ yathā pūrṇaṃ karābhyāṃ gṛhapūruṣaḥ | sopānam āruhed bhītas tarjyamāno ’sipaṇibhiḥ ||

Dijo Yājñavalkya: “Así como un hombre cuidadoso, con la mente refrenada, sube una escalera sosteniendo con ambas manos un cuenco lleno de aceite—y, amenazado y atemorizado por muchos hombres que empuñan espadas, no deja caer ni una sola gota—del mismo modo el yogui que ha alcanzado el estado más alto del yoga, con la mente unificada en un solo punto, no vacila en el samādhi. Por la firmeza de los indriya (facultades sensoriales) y por la condición inconmovible de la mente, permanece imperturbable. Tales son las señales por las que debe reconocerse a un sabio consumado.”

तैलपात्रम्oil-vessel (bowl of oil)
तैलपात्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootतैलपात्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
यथाas/just as
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
पूर्णम्full
पूर्णम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootपूर्ण
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
कराभ्याम्with (both) hands
कराभ्याम्:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Dual
गृह्णन्taking/holding
गृह्णन्:
TypeVerb
Rootग्रह्
Formशतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
पूरुषःa man/person
पूरुषः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपूरुष
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सोपानम्a stair/ladder/steps
सोपानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसोपान
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आरुहेत्would climb/should climb
आरुहेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootआ-रुह्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
भीतःafraid
भीतः:
TypeAdjective
Rootभीत
Formक्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
तर्ज्यमानःbeing threatened
तर्ज्यमानः:
TypeVerb
Rootतर्ज्
Formशानच् (present passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
असिपाणिभिःby sword-in-hand (men)
असिपाणिभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअसिपाणि
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural

याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच

Y
Yājñavalkya
O
oil-filled bowl (tailapātra)
S
staircase (sopāna)
S
sword-bearers (asipaṇi)

Educational Q&A

Unbroken attentiveness and restraint are the hallmark of yogic perfection: like a person who will not spill even a drop of oil under threat, the accomplished yogin does not slip from samādhi because the senses are steady and the mind remains unwavering.

Yājñavalkya illustrates the yogin’s inner stability through a vivid example: an ordinary man climbs stairs holding a full oil-bowl while armed men threaten him; despite fear, he maintains perfect care. This becomes a metaphor for the yogin’s unshakable concentration amid disturbances.