Brahma-vidyā through Yoga: Restraint, Pranava Japa, and Samādhi leading to Mokṣa
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः समाहृत्य हितो हि सः / सहसा सह बुद्ध्या च प्रत्याहारेषु संस्थितः
indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyaḥ samāhṛtya hito hi saḥ / sahasā saha buddhyā ca pratyāhāreṣu saṃsthitaḥ
感官をその対象から引き集めて退かせる者は、まことに益を得る。速やかに、そして分別の智慧(ブッディ)とともに、彼はプラティヤーハーラ(感官の収攝)の修習に確立する。
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Pratyāhāra succeeds when senses are recollected promptly and guided by buddhi (discernment), yielding true welfare (hita).
Vedantic Theme: Buddhi-yukta vairāgya: discrimination supports withdrawal, preparing for dhāraṇā/dhyāna and self-knowledge.
Application: Use ‘buddhi-checks’: label distractions, decide to return, and re-anchor in mantra/breath; practice short cycles frequently to build reflexive withdrawal.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.235.26 (definition of pratyāhāra); Garuda Purana 1.235.28 (dhāraṇā in Brahman after prāṇāyāma)
This verse presents pratyāhāra as a direct spiritual benefit: drawing the senses away from their objects, guided by buddhi, stabilizes the practitioner and supports higher meditation.
By emphasizing control of the senses and discriminative intelligence, the verse points to inner discipline that reduces bondage to desire—one of the causes of karmic entanglement that shapes post-death trajectories.
Regularly pause sensory impulses (screens, cravings, distractions), consciously redirect attention inward, and use buddhi (discernment) to choose what is wholesome—this is everyday pratyāhāra.