Shloka 24
अग्निवंशवर्णनम् (Agni-vaṃśa-varṇana) / The Genealogy and Function of Agni
षण्णामात्मनि युक्तानामिन्द्रियाणां प्रमाथिनाम् । यो धीरो धारयेद् रश्मीन् स स्यात् परमसारथि:,जो धीर पुरुष अपने शरीरमें नित्य विद्यमान छः प्रमथनशील इन्द्रियरूपी अश्वोंकी बागडोर सँभालता है, वही उत्तम सारथि हो सकता है
ṣaṇṇām ātmani yuktānām indriyāṇāṁ pramāthinām | yo dhīro dhārayet raśmīn sa syāt paramasārathiḥ ||
Pemburu itu berkata: “Hanya dia layak digelar sais agung: orang yang teguh dan menguasai diri, yang memegang erat tali kekang enam indera yang bergelora, yang terpasang pada Diri di dalam tubuh.”
व्याध उवाच
Educational Q&A
True excellence lies in self-mastery: the wise person restrains the restless senses as a skilled charioteer controls horses with reins. Ethical life (dharma) is grounded in disciplined inner governance rather than outward status.
In the Vana Parva’s dialogue where the hunter instructs on dharma, he uses a chariot metaphor to explain that a person becomes ‘the supreme charioteer’ by firmly controlling the senses that constantly agitate the mind and conduct.