Shloka 51
Saṃhāra-krama (The Sequence of Cosmic Dissolution) — Yājñavalkya’s Discourse
यथा कश्रिद् वन॑ घोरं बहुसर्पसरीसूपम् । श्वभ्रवत् तोयहीनं च दुर्गमें बहुकण्टकम्
yathā kaścid vanaṁ ghoraṁ bahu-sarpa-sarīsṛpam | śvabhravat toyahīnaṁ ca durgamaṁ bahu-kaṇṭakam ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: Kung paanong bihira lamang ang makalalampas nang ligtas sa isang kakila-kilabot na gubat—tila bangin na walang tubig—na puno ng mga ahas at gumagapang na nilalang, mahirap tawirin at hitik sa tinik, halos walang masusumpungang pagkain at laganap ang panganib; gayon din, bihira lamang sa mga “isinilang na makalawa” ang, sa pagkanlong sa landas ng Yoga, makasusulong dito nang matagumpay, sapagkat sinasabing punô ito ng maraming kapintasan at hirap.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the yogic path is intrinsically difficult and perilous—like crossing a deadly, thorny, waterless forest—and therefore only a rare, well-prepared practitioner can proceed safely; it calls for vigilance, endurance, and freedom from common pitfalls.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on higher dharma and spiritual disciplines. Here he uses a vivid simile of a dangerous forest journey to explain why progress on the path of Yoga is uncommon and requires exceptional steadiness.