Shloka 18
Śarīrin, Buddhi, and the Limits of Sense-Perception (इन्द्रियबुद्धिशरीरिविचारः)
किज्चित् स्निग्धं॑ यथा चस्याच्छुष्कचूर्णम भावितम् । क्रमशस्तु शनैर्गच्छेत् सर्व तत्परिभावनम्
kiñcit snigdhaṃ yathā ca syāc chuṣka-cūrṇam abhāvitam | kramaśas tu śanair gacchet sarvaṃ tat-paribhāvanam ||
ビーシュマは語った。「十分に湿されていない乾いた粉は、一挙に柔らかく練りやすいものにはならず、繰り返し潤されてこそ、少しずつ全体がしっとりしてゆく。まさにそのように、ヨーギーは段階を追って、対象へ散った諸根を引き戻し、絶えざる禅修によって心を静けさで満たしてゆくべきである。かくして漸次に行えば、心はことごとく鎮まる。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Spiritual discipline works best through gradual, repeated practice: the senses should be withdrawn from objects step by step, and the mind should be steadily cultivated through meditation until it becomes calm and stable.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and inner discipline, Bhīṣma teaches by analogy: like dry powder that becomes workable only after repeated moistening, the yogin’s scattered senses and mind are brought to steadiness only through patient, sequential practice.