Shloka 55

Bhīṣma’s Śara-śayyā Stuti to Vāsudeva and Yogic Preparation for Dehotsarga

Body-Relinquishment

Devanagari script

यं विनिद्रा जितश्वासा: सत्त्वस्था: संयतेन्द्रिया: । ज्योति: पश्यन्ति युञ्जानास्तस्मै योगात्मने नम:,जो नींदको जीतकर प्राणोंपर विजय पा चुके हैं और इन्द्रियोंकों अपने वशमें करके शुद्ध सत्त्वमें स्थित हो गये हैं, वे निरन्तर योगाभ्यासमें लगे हुए योगिजन जिनके ज्योतिर्मय स्वरूपका साक्षात्कार करते हैं, उन योगरूप परमात्माको प्रणाम है

Transliteration

yaṁ vinidrā jitaśvāsāḥ sattvasthāḥ saṁyatendriyāḥ | jyotiḥ paśyanti yuñjānās tasmai yogātmane namaḥ ||

Translation

ビーシュマは言った。「ヨーガそのものたる至上の自己に敬礼する。眠りを克服し、生命の息（プラーナ）を制し、諸根を収め、絶えざる修練によって清浄なるサットヴァに安住したヨーギーたちは、その光明に満ちた御姿を直観する。」

Word by Word

यम्whom

विनिद्राःfree from sleep, sleepless (wakeful)

जितश्वासाःhaving conquered the breath (prāṇa-controlled)

सत्त्वस्थाःabiding in sattva (purity)

संयतेन्द्रियाःhaving restrained the senses

ज्योतिःlight, radiance

पश्यन्तिthey see

युञ्जानाःengaging (in yoga), practicing

तस्मैto him

योगात्मनेto the one whose essence is yoga / the Yoga-Self

नमःsalutation

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

yogins (yogajanas)

Yoga-Atman (the Supreme Self as Yoga)

jyotis (luminous form/light)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True spiritual vision arises from disciplined inner mastery: overcoming lethargy, regulating the breath, restraining the senses, and stabilizing the mind in sattva. Such yogic steadiness culminates in direct perception of the luminous Supreme Self, worthy of reverence.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and higher aims, Bhishma offers a reverential statement praising the Supreme Reality realized by accomplished yogins. The verse functions as a devotional salute within a broader teaching on self-discipline and contemplative realization.