Shloka 21

Prahlāda–Indra Saṃvāda: Kartṛtva (Agency) and Svabhāva (Nature) in the Causation of Karma

Devanagari script

अथवा न प्रवर्तेत योगतनन्‍्त्रैरुपक्रमेत्‌ येन तन्त्रयतस्तन्त्रं वृत्ति: स्थात्‌ तत्‌ तदाचरेत्‌

Transliteration

athavā na pravarteta yogatantrair upakramet | yena tantrayatas tantraṁ vṛttiḥ sthāt tat tad ācaret ||

Translation

Bhīṣma disse: Se alguém não entra naturalmente nesse estado, então deve começar pelas disciplinas do yoga. Seja qual for o método que, praticado como um sistema disciplinado, aquiete a atividade da mente e estabeleça a pessoa em Brahman — é precisamente esse que se deve empreender. Se a forma descrita anteriormente não revelar Brahman no interior, o iogue deve iniciar uma prática sustentada por meios centrados no yoga, adotando as observâncias que o mantenham firmemente estabelecido em Brahman.

Word by Word

• {'athavā': 'or

• alternatively', 'na pravarteta': 'should not proceed/engage (naturally or spontaneously)', 'yoga-tantraiḥ': 'by the systematic disciplines/methods of yoga', 'upakramet': 'should begin

• should undertake', 'yena': 'by which

• through which', 'tantrayataḥ': 'of one who is disciplining/controlling

• practicing methodically', 'tantram': 'system

• disciplined procedure', 'vṛttiḥ': 'mental modification

• mode of functioning', 'sthāt': 'may stand

• may become steady/established', 'tat tat': 'that very (means), each such (practice) as applicable', 'ācaret': 'should practice

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Brahman
• yogin
• yoga

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

If direct inner realization does not arise, one should adopt systematic yogic discipline. The right practice is defined pragmatically: whatever method steadies the mind’s vṛttis and establishes one in Brahman should be undertaken.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on liberation and inner discipline, Bhishma advises the listener that when the higher state is not spontaneously attained, the seeker should begin structured yoga-practice and follow those observances that lead to stable absorption in Brahman.