Shloka 14
अव्यक्त–व्यक्त–कारणकार्यविवेकः
Avyakta–Vyakta and Causality: Discrimination of Field and Knower
अन्तरात्मा तथा देहमाविश्येन्द्रियरश्मिभि: । प्राप्येन्द्रिययुणान् पडच सो<स्तमावृत्य गच्छति
antarātmā tathā deham āviśyendriya-raśmibhiḥ | prāpyendriya-guṇān pañca so 'stam āvṛtya gacchati ||
Bhishma berkata: Apabila Diri Batin memasuki jasad, ia mengembang melalui “sinar” pancaindera dan, melalui fungsi-fungsi inderawi itu, menangkap lima objek pengalaman. Ketika ia berangkat pada saat kematian, ia menghimpunkan kembali segala daya itu ke dalam dirinya lalu meneruskan perjalanan—seperti matahari yang setelah terbit memancarkan sinarnya ke segala arah, dan ketika terbenam menarik kembali sinar-sinar itu ke dalam dirinya. Pengajaran akhlaknya ialah: pengalaman berjasad hanyalah pancaran sementara kesedaran melalui indera; maka jangan menyangka kehidupan inderawi itulah Diri, dan jangan melekat pada objek seolah-olah kekal.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The Self is distinct from the body and senses: it ‘projects’ experience through the senses to grasp the five sense-objects, and at death it withdraws those faculties and moves on. Hence one should cultivate detachment and self-knowledge rather than identify with sensory life.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and liberation, Bhishma explains to the listener how the jiva/inner Self operates in embodiment, using the sun’s rays as a simile for the senses spreading out during life and being gathered back at the time of departure.