Shloka 3
Adhyāya 249 — Mṛtyu-prādurbhāvaḥ (The Manifestation of Death) / Restraint of Tejas and Ordered Saṃhāra
इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि बुद्धया संयम्य यत्नत: । सर्वतो निष्पतिष्णूनि पिता बालानिवात्मजान्
indriyāṇi pramāthīni buddhyā saṁyamya yatnataḥ | sarvato niṣpatiṣṇūni pitā bālān ivātmajān ||
தந்தை தன் இளைய மக்களை கட்டுப்பாட்டில் வைத்திருப்பதுபோல், மனிதன் அறிவுத்திறனால் முயன்று, எல்லாத் திசைகளிலும் பொருள்களை நோக்கிப் பாயும் கலக்கமூட்டும் புலன்களை அடக்கி ஆள வேண்டும்.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches indriya-nigraha (mastery of the senses): the senses are naturally restless and forceful, so one must deliberately restrain them through buddhi (discriminating intellect), with sustained effort, as a responsible guardian would restrain and guide children.
In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Vyāsa delivers instruction on inner discipline. He uses a domestic analogy—father and young sons—to make the ethical point vivid: unchecked senses run toward objects from every side, and the seeker must govern them firmly yet wisely.