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Shloka 14

कर्मविद्या-भेदः

Karma–Vidyā Distinction: Paths of Bondage and Release

तदात्मगुणमाविश्य मनो ग्रसति चन्द्रमा: । मनस्युपरते चापि चन्द्रमस्युपतिषछ्ठते,महाप्रलयके समय चन्द्रमा व्यक्त मनको आत्मगुणमें प्रविष्ट करके स्वयं उसको ग्रस लेते हैं। तब मन उपरत (शान्त) हो जाता है; फिर वह चन्द्रमामें उपस्थित रहता है

tad-ātma-guṇam āviśya mano grasati candramāḥ | manasy uparate cāpi candramasyopatiṣṭhate ||

వ్యాసుడు పలికెను—చంద్రుడు తన స్వాత్మగుణంలో ప్రవేశించి మనస్సును గ్రసిస్తాడు. మనస్సు ఈ విధంగా ఉపరతమై, ప్రత్యాహృతమైతే, అది చంద్రునిలోనే నిలిచి ఉంటుంది.

तत्that (it)
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आत्मगुणम्the quality of the self
आत्मगुणम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मगुण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
आविश्यhaving entered
आविश्य:
TypeVerb
Rootआ-विश्
FormAbsolutive (Gerund)
मनःthe mind
मनः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमनस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
ग्रसतिdevours, swallows
ग्रसति:
TypeVerb
Rootग्रस्
FormPresent, Third, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
चन्द्रमाःthe Moon
चन्द्रमाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootचन्द्रमस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
मनसिin the mind
मनसि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमनस्
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
उपरतेwhen (it is) ceased, quieted
उपरते:
TypeVerb
Rootउप-रम्
FormPast Passive Participle, Neuter, Locative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अपिalso, even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
चन्द्रमसिin the Moon
चन्द्रमसि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootचन्द्रमस्
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
उपतिष्ठतेabides, remains present
उपतिष्ठते:
TypeVerb
Rootउप-स्था
FormPresent, Third, Singular

व्यास उवाच

V
Vyāsa
C
Candramā (the Moon)
M
Manas (mind)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches reabsorption: in the great dissolution, the mind is not permanent but is taken back into its subtle source associated with the Moon. Ethically and spiritually, it supports dispassion—recognizing the mind’s impermanence encourages restraint and inner stillness.

Vyāsa is describing a pralaya sequence: the Moon, entering its own subtle principle, ‘swallows’ the mind; once the mind becomes quiet/ceased, it is said to abide in the Moon—depicting the withdrawal of mental activity into a cosmic principle.