Shloka 19
Abhaya-Itihāsa: Karma, Indriyas, and the Non-sensory Brahman
Brāhmaṇī–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda
इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत आश्वमेधिकपर्वके अन्तर्गत अनुगीतापर्वमें उन्नीयवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
ghrāṇaṁ jihvā ca cakṣuṣ tvak ca śrotraṁ ca pañcamam | mano buddhis ca sapta etā jihvā vaiśvānarārcīṣaḥ ||
घ्राणं जिह्वा च चक्षुः त्वक् च श्रोत्रं च पञ्चमम् । मनो बुद्धिश्च सप्तैता जिह्वा वैश्वानरार्चिषः ॥
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse reframes human experience as an inner sacrificial fire (Vaiśvānara): the sense-faculties plus mind and intellect are its ‘flames,’ and their respective objects are the ‘fuel.’ Ethically, it points to disciplined engagement with sense-objects—offering them rightly rather than being consumed by them.
In the Anugītā section of the Aśvamedhika Parva, Vāyudeva teaches a contemplative doctrine using Vedic sacrificial imagery, explaining the body-mind system as a sacred fire and mapping faculties and objects onto ritual elements.