Shloka 3
Adhyāya 249 — Mṛtyu-prādurbhāvaḥ (The Manifestation of Death) / Restraint of Tejas and Ordered Saṃhāra
इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि बुद्धया संयम्य यत्नत: । सर्वतो निष्पतिष्णूनि पिता बालानिवात्मजान्
indriyāṇi pramāthīni buddhyā saṁyamya yatnataḥ | sarvato niṣpatiṣṇūni pitā bālān ivātmajān ||
Sabi ni Vyāsa: Sa matatag na pagsisikap, dapat pigilan ng tao ang magugulong pandama sa pamamagitan ng pag-unawa at paghatol. Gaya ng amang nagtatangan sa kanyang maliliit na anak na lalaki, gayon din dapat mapasailalim ng tao ang mga pandamang sumasalakay sa lahat ng dako tungo sa kanilang mga bagay.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches indriya-nigraha (mastery of the senses): the senses are naturally restless and forceful, so one must deliberately restrain them through buddhi (discriminating intellect), with sustained effort, as a responsible guardian would restrain and guide children.
In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Vyāsa delivers instruction on inner discipline. He uses a domestic analogy—father and young sons—to make the ethical point vivid: unchecked senses run toward objects from every side, and the seeker must govern them firmly yet wisely.