Shloka 19
Vānaprastha-vṛtti and the Transition toward the Fourth Āśrama (वानप्रस्थवृत्तिः चतुर्थाश्रमोपक्रमश्च)
जलरूपमिवाकाशे तथैवात्मनि पश्यति । अपां व्यतिक्रमे चास्य वह्लिरूपं प्रकाशते
jalarūpam ivākāśe tathaivātmani paśyati | apāṁ vyatikrame cāsya vahlirūpaṁ prakāśate ||
Sinabi ni Vyāsa: “Na para bang ang buong lawak ng kalawakan ay pawang tubig, nakikita niya ang lahat sa anyong tubig; at gayon din, nararanasan niya ang Sarili bilang tubig—ito’y nagaganap habang nakatuon siya sa sangkap na tubig. Pagkaraan, kapag humupa ang kalagayang iyon ng tubig, sa pagtuon sa sangkap na apoy, apoy lamang ang nagliliwanag sa kanya sa lahat ng dako.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse describes how concentrated meditation on a particular element (water, then fire) can so saturate perception that the meditator experiences the world—and even the sense of self—in that elemental form; when that state ceases, a new elemental perception arises. It highlights the mind’s power to shape experience and the disciplined progression of yogic concentration.
Vyāsa is explaining a yogic process of dhāraṇā: first the practitioner holds the water-element in awareness, seeing space and the inner self as water; afterward, when the water-concentration dissolves, he takes up the fire-element and perceives fire shining everywhere.