Shloka 90
Adhyātma–Adhibhūta–Adhidaivata Correspondences and the Triguṇa Lakṣaṇas (Śānti-parva 301)
इन्द्रियाणीह सर्वाणि स्वे स्वे स्थाने यथाविधि । अनीशत्वात् प्रलीयन्ते सर्पा हतविषा इव
indriyāṇīha sarvāṇi sve sve sthāne yathāvidhi | anīśatvāt pralīyante sarpā hataviṣā iva ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ici, tous les sens, chacun dans son siège propre et selon l’ordre requis, s’apaisent et se résorbent parce qu’ils n’ont plus le pouvoir d’agir ; tels des serpents dont le venin a été détruit, qui demeurent cachés, incapables de nuire. Dans le sommeil profond, les sens deviennent incapables de saisir leurs objets et se retirent donc dans leurs assises respectives.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When the senses lose operative power—most clearly in deep sleep—they withdraw into their own bases and cease engaging with objects. The simile of venomless snakes highlights that without their effective power, the senses cannot ‘bite’ the world of sense-objects; this supports the ethical ideal of sense-restraint and inner withdrawal.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction, Bhīṣma is explaining a psychological/ontological process: during suṣupti (deep sleep) the faculties of perception and action become incapable of object-knowledge and therefore subside into their respective seats, illustrated by the image of snakes rendered harmless by loss of venom.