Shloka 26
Adhyāya 128 — Proposal to Restrain Keśava; Sātyaki’s Warning and Vidura–Dhṛtarāṣṭra Counsel
इन्द्रियाणि महत्प्रेप्सुर्नियच्छेदर्थ धर्मयो: । इन्द्रियै्नियतैरबुद्धिर्वर्धतेडग्निरिवेन्धनै:
indriyāṇi mahat prepsur niyacched artha-dharmayoḥ | indriyaiḥ niyatair abuddhir vardhate 'gnir iva indhanaiḥ ||
वैशम्पायन बोले—जो महान पद पाना चाहता है, वह अर्थ और धर्म के मार्ग में अपनी इन्द्रियों को संयमित रखे। इन्द्रियों के वश में होने पर बुद्धि वैसे ही बढ़ती है, जैसे ईंधन से अग्नि प्रज्वलित होती है।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sense-restraint (indriya-nigraha) is presented as the foundation for attaining higher goals: when one governs the senses within the domains of artha (material life) and dharma (righteous conduct), discernment (buddhi) steadily grows, enabling right choice and steadiness.
In Udyoga Parva’s counsel-oriented context, Vaiśampāyana delivers a didactic maxim: he frames ethical preparation for great aims not as mere ambition, but as disciplined regulation of the senses so that one’s intellect becomes strong and luminous.