Shloka 12
महाभूत–इन्द्रिय–मनस्–बुद्धि–अन्तरात्मा विवेकः | Discrimination of Elements, Senses, Mind, Intellect, and Inner Self
दन्तोलूखलिका: केचिदश्मकुट्टास्तथा परे | शुक्लपक्षे पिबन्त्येके यवागूं क्वथितां सकृत्
dantolūkhalikāḥ kecid aśmakuṭṭās tathā pare | śuklapakṣe pibanty eke yavāgūṃ kvathitāṃ sakṛt ||
کچھ لوگ دانتوں ہی کو اوکھلی بنا کر (چبا کر) گزارا کرتے ہیں، اور کچھ پتھروں سے کوٹ کر۔ شُکل پکش میں بعض لوگ اُبلی ہوئی یواگو (جو کی پتلی کھیر/دلیہ) دن میں صرف ایک بار پیتے ہیں۔
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the diversity and rigor of ascetic disciplines, emphasizing restraint of the senses and appetite as a means to cultivate self-mastery and ethical steadiness (tapas as a support to dharma).
Vyāsa is describing different kinds of ascetics and their practices—some adopting extreme methods of preparing food and others limiting themselves to a single drink of boiled gruel during the bright fortnight—illustrating graded forms of austerity.