Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 19

Adhyāya 214: Tapas Redefined—Perpetual Discipline, Hospitality, and the Ethics of Eating (तपः-निरूपणम्, विघसाशी-अतिथिप्रिय-धर्मः)

मध्ये च हृदयस्यैका शिरा तत्र मनोवहा । शुक्रे संकल्पजं नृणां सर्वगात्रै्विमुड्चति,हृदयके मध्यभागमें एक मनोवहा नामकी नाड़ी है जो पुरुषोंक कामविषयक संकल्पके द्वारा सारे शरीरसे वीर्यको खींचकर बाहर निकाल देती है

madhye ca hṛdayasyaikā śirā tatra manovahā | śukre saṅkalpajaṃ nṛṇāṃ sarvagātrair vimucyati ||

دل کے عین وسط میں ‘منوواہا’ نام کی ایک ہی نالی (ناڑی) ہے جو ذہن کو لے جانے والی ہے۔ جب مرد میں خواہش سے پیدا ہونے والا ارادہ (سنکلپ) اٹھتا ہے تو وہ منی پر اثر ڈال کر اسے تمام اعضا سے کھینچ کر خارج کر دیتی ہے۔

मध्येin the middle
मध्ये:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमध्य
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
हृदयस्यof the heart
हृदयस्य:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootहृदय
FormNeuter, Genitive, Singular
एकाone (single)
एका:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootएक
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
शिराvein/channel (nāḍī)
शिरा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशिरा
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र
मनोवहाmind-carrying
मनोवहा:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमनोवह
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
शुक्रेin semen
शुक्रे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootशुक्र
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
संकल्पजम्born of intention/resolve
संकल्पजम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसंकल्पज
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
नृणाम्of men
नृणाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootनृ
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
सर्वगात्रैःby/through all the limbs
सर्वगात्रैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootसर्वगात्र
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
विमुञ्चतिreleases/lets out
विमुञ्चति:
TypeVerb
Rootमुच्
FormPresent, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
H
hṛdaya (heart)
M
manovahā śirā (mind-carrying channel)
Ś
śukra (semen)

Educational Q&A

The verse links mental intention (saṅkalpa), especially desire-oriented resolve, with bodily processes, implying an ethical lesson: mastery of the mind is crucial for mastery of the senses and for brahmacarya/self-restraint.

In Bhīṣma’s instruction in the Śānti Parva, he explains a traditional mind–body mechanism: a ‘manovahā’ channel in the heart is said to transmit mental resolve and thereby affect the movement and discharge of semen throughout the body.