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Shloka 36

Saṃhāra-krama (The Sequence of Cosmic Dissolution) — Yājñavalkya’s Discourse

सारथिश्न यथा युकत्वा सदश्चान्‌ सुसमाहितः । देशमिष्टं नयत्याशु धन्विनं पुरुषर्षभ

sārathiś ca yathā yuktvā sad-aśvān susamāhitaḥ | deśam iṣṭaṃ nayaty āśu dhanvinaṃ puruṣarṣabha ||

Бхишма сказал: «О лучший из людей! Как бдительный возничий, правильно впрягши добрых коней и оставаясь всецело внимательным, быстро доставляет воина-лучника к желанному месту, так и йогин, чей ум собран в одноточечном сосредоточении на дхаранах, скоро достигает высшего состояния — словно стрела, пущенная к цели».

सारथिःcharioteer
सारथिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसारथि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
यथाas, just as
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
युक्त्वाhaving yoked
युक्त्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootयुज्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)
सदश्वान्good horses
सदश्वान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसदश्व
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
सुसमाहितःwell-composed, very attentive
सुसमाहितः:
TypeAdjective
Rootसु-समाहित
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
देशम्place, region
देशम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदेश
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
इष्टम्desired
इष्टम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootइष्ट
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
नयतिleads, takes
नयति:
TypeVerb
Rootनी
FormPresent (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
आशुquickly
आशु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootआशु
धन्विनम्bowman, archer
धन्विनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधन्विन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
पुरुषर्षभO bull among men
पुरुषर्षभ:
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुष-ऋषभ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
C
charioteer (sārathi)
E
excellent horses (sad-aśvāḥ)
B
bowman/archer (dhanvin)
D
desired destination (deśa iṣṭa)
Y
yogin (implied)
A
arrow (implied by simile)

Educational Q&A

Focused inner discipline leads swiftly to the highest goal: as a skilled charioteer reaches a destination by properly harnessing and controlling good horses, a yogin reaches the supreme state by properly gathering and directing the mind through dhāraṇā (concentration).

In Bhishma’s instruction during the Shanti Parva, he uses a martial image familiar to kings and warriors—charioteer, horses, archer, and target—to explain how attentive control and correct preparation in yoga carry a practitioner quickly to the intended spiritual end.