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 dit : Lorsqu’un homme a contenu ses sens et soumis son esprit à sa maîtrise, les divinités qui président à ces sens deviennent rayonnantes de joie ; satisfaites, elles tournent la marche de cet homme vers le Seigneur. L’enseignement moral est que la discipline intérieure n’est pas une simple contrainte, mais une mise en harmonie des facultés, afin que les forces de l’être s’accordent d’elles-mêmes au bien suprême.
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.