Shloka 21
मनु-उपदेशः — भूत-उत्पत्ति, इन्द्रिय-निवृत्ति, तथा पर-स्वभाव-विवेकः
Manu’s Instruction on Elemental Origination, Sense-Withdrawal, and Discrimination of the Supreme Nature
अधिष्ठानानि बुद्धेर्हि पृथगर्थानि पञ्चधा । इन्द्रियाणीति यान्याहुस्तान्यदृश्योडधितिष्ठति
adhiṣṭhānāni buddher hi pṛthag-arthāni pañcadhā | indriyāṇīti yāny āhus tāny adṛśyo ’dhi tiṣṭhati ||
ਵਿਸ਼ਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੱਖ ਵੱਖ ਗ੍ਰਹਿਣ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਬੁੱਧੀ ਦੇ ਜੋ ਪੰਜ ਅਧਿਸ਼ਠਾਨ ਹਨ, ਉਹੀ ਪੰਜ ਇੰਦ੍ਰੀਆਂ ਕਹੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ। ਅਦ੍ਰਿਸ਼੍ਯ ਜੀਵਾਤਮਾ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਸਭ ਦਾ ਅਧਿਸ਼ਠਾਤਾ (ਅੰਦਰੂਨੀ ਨਿਯੰਤਾ) ਹੈ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse distinguishes the five sense-faculties as the five object-oriented bases of buddhi, and asserts that an unseen inner self (jīva/ātman) presides over and impels them—implying that ethical mastery begins with recognizing an inner governor beyond the senses.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhishma continues his discourse to Yudhishthira on inner discipline and knowledge, explaining how perception operates through the senses and how the unseen self stands as their overseer, supporting a broader teaching on restraint and liberation.