Shloka 12

Yoga, Nārāyaṇa as Supreme Principle, and the Emanation of Categories

Sāṅkhya-Yoga Outline

Devanagari script

मृगैर्मुगाणां ग्रहणं पक्षिणां पक्षिभियर्यथा । गजानां च गजैरेव ज्ञेयं ज्ञानेन गृहते

Transliteration

mṛgair mṛgāṇāṃ grahaṇaṃ pakṣiṇāṃ pakṣibhir yathā | gajānāṃ ca gajair eva jñeyaṃ jñānena gṛhyate ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଯେପରି ମୃଗ ମୃଗଦ୍ୱାରା, ପକ୍ଷୀ ପକ୍ଷୀଦ୍ୱାରା, ଏବଂ ଗଜ ଗଜଦ୍ୱାରା ଧରାପଡ଼େ; ସେହିପରି ଯାହା ଜ୍ଞେୟ, ତାହା ଜ୍ଞାନଦ୍ୱାରା ହିଁ ଗ୍ରହଣ ହୁଏ। ଯଥାଯଥ ଉପାୟ ବିନା କୌଣସି ପ୍ରୟୋଜନ ସିଦ୍ଧ ହୁଏ ନାହିଁ; ଉପଯୁକ୍ତ ସାଧନ ହିଁ ଇଚ୍ଛିତ ଫଳ ଦେଉଛି।

Word by Word

• मृगैः: by deer
• मृगैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• मुगाणाम्: of the muga-deer (a kind of deer)
• मुगाणाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुग
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• ग्रहणम्: seizing/capturing
• ग्रहणम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रहण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• पक्षिणाम्: of birds
• पक्षिणाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• पक्षिभिः: by birds
• पक्षिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• यथा: just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• गजानाम्: of elephants
• गजानाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• गजैः: by elephants
• गजैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• एव: indeed/only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• ज्ञेयम्: the knowable (object)
• ज्ञेयम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञेय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• ज्ञानेन: by knowledge
• ज्ञानेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• गृह्यते: is grasped/apprehended
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह्
• Form: Present, Passive, Third, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• mṛga (deer)
• pakṣin (bird)
• gaja (elephant)
• jñāna (knowledge)
• jñeya (knowable object)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A goal is achieved only through an appropriate means: just as specific creatures are best caught using their own kind as bait or instrument, the knowable is apprehended only through knowledge. The verse stresses fitness of method (upāya-yogyatā) and the primacy of jñāna for understanding.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on righteous conduct and effective governance. Here he uses vivid analogies from hunting and capture to illustrate a general principle: success—especially in understanding and in practical affairs—depends on choosing the right instrument or method.