Shloka 15
Adhyāya 249 — Mṛtyu-prādurbhāvaḥ (The Manifestation of Death) / Restraint of Tejas and Ordered Saṃhāra
संसारसागरगमां योनिपातालदुस्तराम् | आत्मकर्मोद्धवां तात जिद्नावर्ता दुरासदाम्
saṃsārasāgaragamāṃ yonipātāladustarām | ātmakarmoddhavāṃ tāta jihvāvartāṃ durāsadām ||
Wika ni Vyāsa: “Anak, ang agos ng pag-iral sa daigdig ay tulad ng isang kakila-kilabot na ilog na dumadaloy sa lahat ng daigdig at bumubuhos sa karagatan ng saṃsāra. Mahirap masundan ang pinagmulan nito; ang lalim nito’y parang kailaliman ng ilalim-daigdig; at napakahirap tawirin. Ipinanganganak ito ng sariling karma; ang buhawi nito’y ang dila—ang pagnanasa sa lasa at pagkapit sa pagnanasa—at mapanganib lapitan. Tanging sa dalisay na pag-unawa at pagpipigil sa sarili makakatawid ang tao at makararating sa kaligtasan.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Worldly bondage is self-created through one’s own karma and cravings; sense-driven appetite (symbolized by the tongue) becomes a whirlpool that drags one back into saṃsāra. The remedy implied is purification of intellect, restraint, and disciplined living aimed at liberation.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction-oriented setting, Vyāsa addresses a listener affectionately (“tāta”) and teaches through a vivid allegory: saṃsāra is a terrifying river leading into the ocean of continued existence, difficult to cross because of inner forces like craving and habit.