Shloka 32

त्रिवर्गविचारः

Tri-varga Deliberation: Dharma, Artha, Kāma

Devanagari script

यच्च पैतामहं स्थान ब्रह्म॒राशिसमुद्धवम्‌ । गुहायां पिहित॑ नित्यं तद्‌ दमेनाभिगम्यते

Transliteration

yac ca paitāmahaṃ sthānaṃ brahma-rāśi-samudbhavam | guhāyāṃ pihitaṃ nityaṃ tad damenābhigamyate ||

Translation

भीष्म ने कहा—जो पितामह ब्रह्मा का परम स्थान है, जो ब्रह्म-राशि से उद्भूत है, वह नित्य हृदय-गुहा में छिपा रहता है। उसकी प्राप्ति केवल ‘दम’ से होती है—अर्थात् इन्द्रियों का संयम और मन का दृढ़ निग्रह।

Word by Word

• {'yat ca': 'and that which', 'paitāmaham': 'ancestral

• pertaining to the Pitāmaha (Brahmā), primeval', 'sthānam': 'abode

• state', 'brahma-rāśi': 'the Brahmic mass/aggregate

• the Brahmanic source (a concentrated ‘store’ of Brahman)', 'samudbhavam': 'arisen from

• originating in', 'guhāyām': 'in the cave (especially the heart-cave)', 'pihitam': 'hidden

• concealed', 'nityam': 'always

• eternally', 'tat': 'that (abode/state)', 'damena': 'by dama

• by self-restraint (sense-control and mental discipline)', 'abhigamyate': 'is attained

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• hṛdaya-guhā (cave of the heart)
• dama (self-restraint)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The highest spiritual ‘abode’ is not sought externally; it is hidden within the heart. Its attainment depends on dama—ethical self-mastery through restraint of the senses and disciplined control of the mind.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and liberation, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira, emphasizing inner practice: the supreme state associated with Brahmā/Brahman is accessed through self-control rather than ritual or outward achievement.