Shloka 4
Adhyāya 249 — Mṛtyu-prādurbhāvaḥ (The Manifestation of Death) / Restraint of Tejas and Ordered Saṃhāra
मनसश्षेन्द्रियाणां चाप्यैकाग्र्यं परमं तप: । तज्ज्याय:ः सर्वधर्मेभ्य: स धर्म: पर उच्यते,मन और इन्द्रियोंकी एकाग्रता ही सबसे बड़ी तपस्या है। यही सब धर्मोंसे श्रेष्ठठटम परम धर्म बताया जाता है
manasaś cendriyāṇāṃ cāpy aikāgryaṃ paramaṃ tapaḥ | taj jyāyaḥ sarvadharmebhyaḥ sa dharmaḥ para ucyate ||
Keutuhan perhatian—keteguhan satu-titik dari batin dan indria—itulah tapa yang tertinggi. Karena melampaui segala dharma lainnya, itulah yang disebut Dharma Yang Utama.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that true tapas is inner: steady, one-pointed control of mind and senses. This inward mastery is presented as superior to external observances and therefore termed the supreme dharma.
In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Vyāsa is articulating a principle of ethical-spiritual life, emphasizing that the foundation of dharma is mental and sensory discipline rather than mere ritual or outward acts.