Shloka 14
मनुरुवाच — इन्द्रिय-मनः-ज्ञान-क्रमः
Manu on the hierarchy of senses, mind, and knowledge
कुशोच्चयनिषण्ण: सन् कुशहस्त: कुशै: शिखी । कुशै: परिवृतस्तस्मिन् मध्ये छन्न: कुशैस्तथा
kuśoccayaniṣaṇṇaḥ san kuśahastaḥ kuśaiḥ śikhī | kuśaiḥ parivṛtas tasmin madhye channaḥ kuśais tathā ||
Sang pelaku japa hendaknya duduk di atas alas dari rumput kuśa, memegang kuśa di tangan, dan mengikat kuśa pada śikhā (jambul). Hendaknya ia duduk dikelilingi kuśa, dan bagian tengah pun ditutupi kuśa.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
External disciplines—such as sitting on a kuśa seat, holding kuśa, and arranging the śikhā with kuśa—are prescribed as supports for inner steadiness and purity, aiding progress on the nivṛtti (renunciatory) path.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing on dharma and spiritual practice; here he gives a practical rule for a japa/meditative practitioner’s seating and ritual arrangement using kuśa grass.