Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 28
Brahmacarya and Vānaprastha Duties; Gradual Dissolution of Bodily Identity
वाचमग्नौ सवक्तव्यामिन्द्रे शिल्पं करावपि । पदानि गत्या वयसि रत्योपस्थं प्रजापतौ ॥ २६ ॥ मृत्यौ पायुं विसर्गं च यथास्थानं विनिर्दिशेत् । दिक्षु श्रोत्रं सनादेन स्पर्शेनाध्यात्मनि त्वचम् ॥ २७ ॥ रूपाणि चक्षुषा राजन् ज्योतिष्यभिनिवेशयेत् । अप्सु प्रचेतसा जिह्वां घ्रेयैर्घ्राणं क्षितौ न्यसेत् ॥ २८ ॥
vācam agnau savaktavyām indre śilpaṁ karāv api padāni gatyā vayasi ratyopasthaṁ prajāpatau
Kemudian, daya bicara beserta lidah hendaknya dipersembahkan ke dalam api; keterampilan dan kedua tangan kepada dewa Indra; kekuatan bergerak dan kaki kepada Bhagavān Viṣṇu; kenikmatan inderawi beserta alat kelamin kepada Prajāpati. Anus beserta daya pembuangan ditempatkan pada Mṛtyu; pendengaran beserta getaran suara kepada para dewa penjaga arah; peraba beserta objek sentuh kepada Vāyu; rupa beserta daya melihat kepada matahari; lidah beserta Varuṇa kepada air; dan penciuman beserta objek bau kepada Aśvinī-kumāra, ditanamkan pada bumi.
FAQs
In 7.12.28, Śukadeva describes a meditative withdrawal where sight is merged into light, taste into water, and smell into earth—reducing sensory fixation and turning the mind inward.
Parīkṣit was preparing for death through exclusive devotion and detachment; Śukadeva gives practical steps of sense-withdrawal to support steady remembrance of the Supreme.
Practice conscious restraint: reduce overstimulation, redirect the senses to sattvic inputs, and engage them in bhakti (seeing the Deity, tasting prasāda, smelling tulasī/incense) so the senses naturally detach from worldly craving.