Shloka 30
Vyaktāvyakta-Viveka and Nivṛtti as Paramā Gati
Manifest–Unmanifest Discrimination and the Supreme Path of Withdrawal
श्रोत्रं त्वक्चक्षुषी जिद्ना प्राणं ज्ञानेन्द्रियाण्यथ । पादौ पायुरुपस्थश्न हस्तौ वाक्कर्मणी अपि,श्रोत्र, त्वचा, नेत्र, जिह्ला और नासिका--ये पाँच ज्ञानेन्द्रियाँ हैं। हाथ, पैर, गुदा, उपस्थ (लिंग) और वाक्ू--ये पाँच कर्मेन्द्रियाँ हैं
śrotraṃ tvak cakṣuṣī jihvā prāṇaṃ jñānendriyāṇy atha | pādau pāyur upasthaś ca hastau vāk karmaṇī api ||
శ్రోత్రం, త్వచ, చక్షు, జిహ్వ, ఘ్రాణం—ఇవి ఐదు జ్ఞానేంద్రియాలు. పాదాలు, పాయువు, ఉపస్థం, చేతులు, వాక్కు—ఇవి ఐదు కర్మేంద్రియాలు.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches discernment of human faculties by distinguishing the instruments of knowing (jñānendriyas) and doing (karmendriyas). This classification supports ethical discipline: when one understands how perception and action arise through these faculties, one can practice restraint and direct them toward dharma.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and inner discipline. Here he pauses to enumerate the sense-faculties and action-faculties as part of a broader teaching on self-mastery and right conduct.