Shloka 20
Śuka’s Manifestation from the Araṇi (Āraṇeya-janma) — शुकजन्म (आरणेय-सम्भव)
न चेन्द्रियव्युपरमे मनस्युपरमो भवेत् | एवं मन:प्रधानानि इन्द्रियाणि प्रभावयेत्
na cendriyavyuparame manasy uparamo bhavet | evaṁ manaḥ-pradhānāni indriyāṇi prabhāvayet |
पर इन्द्रियों के उपरत हो जाने मात्र से मन में उपरति नहीं आती। इसलिए यह निश्चय जानना चाहिए कि समस्त इन्द्रियों में मन ही प्रधान है; वही इन्द्रियों को चलाता और प्रेरित करता है।
याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Mere withdrawal of the senses does not guarantee inner peace; the mind remains active unless it is disciplined. Since the senses are mind-led, true restraint and ethical steadiness come from mastering the mind rather than only suppressing external sense-activity.
In the Śānti Parva’s instructional discourse, the sage Yājñavalkya explains principles of inner discipline to his listener(s), emphasizing psychological causality: the mind is primary and directs the senses, so spiritual practice must address the mind’s movements.