Shloka 17

Prahlāda–Indra Saṃvāda: Kartṛtva (Agency) and Svabhāva (Nature) in the Causation of Karma

Devanagari script

ज्ञानदग्धपरिक्लेश: प्रयोगरतिरात्मवान्‌ | निष्प्रचारेण मनसा परं तदधिगच्छति

Transliteration

jñānadagdha-parikleśaḥ prayoga-ratir ātmavān | niṣpracāreṇa manasā paraṃ tad adhigacchati ||

Translation

भीष्म ने कहा—जिसके क्लेश ज्ञानाग्नि से दग्ध हो चुके हैं, जो योगानुष्ठान में रत है और आत्मसंयमी है—वह बाह्य विषयों में न भटकने वाले मन के द्वारा उस परम तत्त्व को प्राप्त कर लेता है।

Word by Word

• ज्ञानदग्धपरिक्लेशः: one whose afflictions are burnt by knowledge
• ज्ञानदग्धपरिक्लेशः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान-दग्ध-परिक्लेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रयोगरतिः: delighting in practice (yoga/discipline)
• प्रयोगरतिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रयोग-रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आत्मवान्: self-possessed; self-controlled
• आत्मवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निष्प्रचारेण: with (a mind) without outward movement
• निष्प्रचारेण: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्प्रचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• मनसा: by the mind
• मनसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• परम्: the supreme (reality)
• परम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अधिगच्छति: attains; reaches; realizes
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-गम् (धातु)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• param (Supreme Brahman/Paramātman)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Liberating knowledge, coupled with steady yogic discipline and a mind withdrawn from distractions, destroys inner suffering and leads to realization of the Supreme (Brahman/Paramātman).

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and the path to peace after the war; here he describes the inner qualities of a practitioner whose knowledge and disciplined meditation culminate in attaining the Supreme Reality.