Shloka 4

Śarīrin, Buddhi, and the Limits of Sense-Perception (इन्द्रियबुद्धिशरीरिविचारः)

Devanagari script

निर्दन्द्धा नित्यसत्त्वस्था विमुक्ता नियमस्थिता: । असड्ान्यविवादीनि मन:शान्तिकराणि च,ध्यानयोगके साधकोंको चाहिये कि सर्दी-गर्मी आदि द्वन्द्धोंसे रहित, नित्य सत्त्वगुणमें स्थित, सब प्रकारके दोषोंसे रहित और शौच-संतोषादि नियमोंमें तत्पर रहें। जो स्थान असंग (सब प्रकारके भोगोंके संगसे शून्य), ध्यानविरोधी वस्तुओंसे रहित तथा मनको शान्ति देनेवाले हों, वहीं इन्द्रियोंको विषयोंकी ओरसे समेटकर काठकी भाँति स्थिरभावसे बैठ जाय और मनको एकाग्र करके परमात्माके ध्यानमें लगा दे

Transliteration

nirdvandvā nityasattvasthā vimuktā niyamasthitāḥ | asaṅgāny avivādīni manaḥśāntikarāṇi ca ||

Translation

निर्द्वन्द्वा नित्यसत्त्वस्था विमुक्ता नियमस्थिता: । असङ्गान्यविवादीनि मनःशान्तिकराणि च । देशान् सेवेत योगीन्द्रः ॥

Word by Word

निर्द्वन्द्वाःfree from pairs of opposites

नित्यसत्त्वस्थाःalways established in sattva

विमुक्ताःliberated; freed

नियमस्थिताḥabiding in observances (niyamas)

असङ्गानिdetached; without association

अविवादीनिnon-contentious; free from dispute

मनःशान्तिकराणिbringing peace to the mind

चand

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

meditation-yoga practitioners (dhyānayoga-sādhaka)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A meditator should cultivate inner steadiness—freedom from dualities, a sattvic disposition, and disciplined observances—and should choose a quiet, non-attaching, non-contentious environment that naturally calms the mind.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma continues advising on spiritual practice, describing the qualities and conditions suitable for those pursuing meditation-yoga.