Shloka 12
महाभूत–इन्द्रिय–मनस्–बुद्धि–अन्तरात्मा विवेकः | Discrimination of Elements, Senses, Mind, Intellect, and Inner Self
दन्तोलूखलिका: केचिदश्मकुट्टास्तथा परे | शुक्लपक्षे पिबन्त्येके यवागूं क्वथितां सकृत्
dantolūkhalikāḥ kecid aśmakuṭṭās tathā pare | śuklapakṣe pibanty eke yavāgūṃ kvathitāṃ sakṛt ||
Sinabi ni Vyāsa: May ilan na nabubuhay na ang mga ngipin lamang ang tila almires, at ang iba nama’y dumudurog gamit ang bato. Sa maliwanag na kalahati ng buwan (śukla-pakṣa), may mga umiinom lamang isang beses sa maghapon ng isang bahagi ng pinakuluang lugaw (yavāgū)—patunay ng sari-saring disiplina ng tapas na ginagamit ng mga naghahanap upang pigilin ang gana at linangin ang pagpipigil-sa-sarili.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the diversity and rigor of ascetic disciplines, emphasizing restraint of the senses and appetite as a means to cultivate self-mastery and ethical steadiness (tapas as a support to dharma).
Vyāsa is describing different kinds of ascetics and their practices—some adopting extreme methods of preparing food and others limiting themselves to a single drink of boiled gruel during the bright fortnight—illustrating graded forms of austerity.