Shloka 12
Adhyāya 249 — Mṛtyu-prādurbhāvaḥ (The Manifestation of Death) / Restraint of Tejas and Ordered Saṃhāra
सर्वतःस्रोतसं घोरां नदीं लोकप्रवाहिनीम् । पज्चेन्द्रियग्राहवती मन:संकल्परोधसम्
sarvataḥ-srotasaṃ ghorāṃ nadīṃ loka-pravāhinīm | pañcendriya-grāhavatī manaḥ-saṅkalpa-rodhasam ||
Wika ni Vyāsa: “Ang saṃsāra ay isang nakapanghihilakbot na ilog na nagdadala sa agos ng lahat ng daigdig. Ang mga sanga ng agos nito’y dumadaloy sa bawat panig. Sa loob nito, ang limang pandama ay tulad ng limang buwaya, at ang mga balak at guniguni ng isip ang bumubuo sa mga pampang. Napakahirap itong tawirin ng hindi pa nagagapi ang sarili; ngunit sa dalisay na pag-unawa, malalampasan ito.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Saṃsāra is portrayed as a dangerous river: the senses seize like crocodiles and the mind’s constructions shape one’s boundaries. The implied teaching is that liberation requires restraint of the senses and purification of the intellect so one can ‘cross’ beyond worldly bondage.
Vyāsa is instructing the listener through an extended metaphor. He characterizes worldly life as a powerful current that sweeps beings along, warning of inner dangers (senses and mental resolve) and pointing toward the means of overcoming them (self-control and purified understanding).