Shloka 6

Adhyāya 240: Indriya–Manas–Buddhi–Ātman — The Inner Hierarchy and Restraint (इन्द्रिय-मनस्-बुद्धि-आत्म-क्रमः)

Devanagari script

धृत्या शिक्षोदरं रक्षेत्‌ पाणिपादं च चक्षुषा

Transliteration

dhṛtyā śiśnodaraṁ rakṣet pāṇipādaṁ ca cakṣuṣā | sattvasaṁsevanād dhīro nidrām ucchettum arhati ||

Translation

వ్యాసుడు పలికెను—ధైర్యముతో శిశ్నమును, ఉదరమును రక్షించాలి; అనగా ఇంద్రియభోగాసక్తిని, ఆహారాసక్తిని నియంత్రించాలి. నేత్రసావధానముతో చేతులు-కాళ్లను దుష్కర్మల నుండి ఆపాలి. సత్త్వసేవనముతో ధీరుడు నిద్ర (జడత్వం)ను తొలగించుటకు యోగ్యుడగును.

Word by Word

• धृत्या: by firmness/steadfastness
• धृत्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• शिश्नम्: the genital organ
• शिश्नम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिश्न
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उदरम्: the belly (appetite)
• उदरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• रक्षेत्: should protect/guard
• रक्षेत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पाणि: hand
• पाणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पादम्: foot
• पादम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• चक्षुषा: with the eye (by vigilance)
• चक्षुषा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• सत्त्व: of sattva (purity)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• संसेवनात्: from/through cultivation (association, practice)
• संसेवनात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसेवन
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• धीरः: the steadfast (man)
• धीरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निद्राम्: sleep
• निद्राम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• उच्छेत्तुम्: to cut off/remove
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-छिद्
• Form: Tumun (infinitive)

• अर्हति: is able/fit (deserves)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Guard the roots of misconduct—sexual impulse and appetite—through fortitude; keep actions (hands and feet) under the supervision of awareness (the eyes); and cultivate sattva to overcome sleep as lethargy and negligence, thereby sustaining dharmic conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s instruction on right living and inner discipline, Vyāsa delivers a practical regimen of self-restraint: regulate bodily appetites, monitor outward actions, and refine the mind through sattvic cultivation so that one becomes vigilant and ethically steady.