Shloka 32
Saṃhāra-krama (The Sequence of Cosmic Dissolution) — Yājñavalkya’s Discourse
स्नेहपूर्णे यथा पात्रे मन आधाय निश्चलम् । पुरुषो युक्त आरोहेत् सोपानं युक्तमानस:,पृथ्वीनाथ! जैसे सिरपर रखे हुए तेलसे भरे पात्रकी ओर मनको स्थिरभावसे लगाये रखनेवाला पुरुष एकाग्रचित्त हो सीढ़ियोंपर चढ़ जाता है और जरा भी तेल नहीं छलकता, उसी तरह योगी भी योगयुक्त होकर जब आत्माको परमात्मामें स्थिर करता है, उस समय उसका आत्मा अत्यन्त निर्मल तथा अचल सूर्यके समान तेजस्वी हो जाता है
snehapūrṇe yathā pātre mana ādhāya niścalam | puruṣo yukta ārohet sopānaṁ yuktamānasaḥ || pṛthvīnātha! yathā śirasā dhṛte tailapūrṇapātre manaḥ sthirīkṛtyaika-citto janaḥ sopānāni ārohati na ca kiñcid api tailaṁ praskhalati, tathā yogī’pi yogayukto yadā ātmānaṁ paramātmani sthāpayati tadā tasya ātmā atyanta-nirmalaś ca niścalas ca sūryavad dīptimān bhavati ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ହେ ପୃଥ୍ୱୀନାଥ! ଯେପରି ମୁଣ୍ଡ ଉପରେ ତେଲରେ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ପାତ୍ର ରଖି, ସେଥିପାଇଁ ମନକୁ ନିଶ୍ଚଳ କରି, ଏକାଗ୍ରଚିତ୍ତ ମଣିଷ ସିଢ଼ି ଚଢ଼େ ଓ ଅଳ୍ପମାତ୍ର ତେଲ ମଧ୍ୟ ଛଲକାଏ ନାହିଁ; ସେପରି ଯୋଗଯୁକ୍ତ ଯୋଗୀ ଯେତେବେଳେ ଆତ୍ମାକୁ ପରମାତ୍ମାରେ ସ୍ଥିର କରେ, ସେତେବେଳେ ସେ ଅନ୍ତରେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ନିର୍ମଳ ଓ ଅଚଳ ହୁଏ, ଏବଂ ତାହାର ଅନ୍ତଃପ୍ରଭା ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ସମ ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ ହୁଏ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches ekāgratā (one-pointed concentration) and steadiness: as careful attention prevents even a drop of oil from spilling while climbing steps, so disciplined yoga enables the yogin to fix the self in the Supreme without wavering, resulting in purity and radiant clarity.
In Śānti Parva, Bhishma instructs the king on dharma and the path of inner peace. Here he uses a vivid everyday analogy—balancing an oil-filled vessel while climbing stairs—to illustrate the mental steadiness required for yogic absorption in the Paramātman.