Shloka 11
मनुरुवाच — इन्द्रिय-मनः-ज्ञान-क्रमः
Manu on the hierarchy of senses, mind, and knowledge
ध्यानं तपो दम: क्षान्तिरनसूया मिताशनम् । विषयप्रतिसंहारो मितजल्पस्तथा शम:
bhīṣma uvāca | dhyānaṁ tapo damaḥ kṣāntir anasūyā mitāśanam | viṣaya-pratisaṁhāro mita-jalpas tathā śamaḥ satyam agnihotraṁ ekānta-sevanaṁ—eṣa pravartaka-yajñaḥ | atha nivartaka-yajñasya varṇanaṁ śṛṇu, yathā japaṁ kurvato brahmacāriṇaḥ sarve karmāṇi nivartante | dṛḍha-grāhī karomīti jāpyaṁ japati jāpakaḥ | na sampūrṇo na saṁyukto nirayaṁ so ’nugacchati ||
毗湿摩说：禅观（dhyāna）、苦行（tapas）、自制（dama）、忍耐（kṣānti）、无嫉（anasūyā）、饮食节度（mitāśana）、收摄诸根远离境界、言语有度（mitajalpa）、寂静安定（śama）、真实不妄、火供（agnihotra）、以及独处静修——这便是“发动之祭”（pravartaka-yajña），能使人踏上正道的修持。现在再听“回收之祭”（nivartaka-yajña）：依其持诵（japa）之法，专修持诵的梵行者（brahmacārin）诸业渐息（趋向解脱）。然而，若有诵者执著于僵硬的誓念——“我必定要把此持诵做完”——虽依仪轨开始重复诵念，却既不真切用功，也不能圆满完成，则堕入败亡之境（naraka）。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames ethical and yogic disciplines as a form of ‘sacrifice’: inner practices (meditation, restraint, truth, moderation, seclusion) initiate spiritual progress, while deeper practice aims at cessation of karmic momentum. He warns that taking up japa with stubborn resolve but without genuine engagement or completion is spiritually harmful and leads to downfall.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma is teaching about inner yajña (sacrifice) and disciplined practice. He lists virtues and observances as the ‘activating sacrifice,’ then transitions to the ‘withdrawing sacrifice’ connected with japa and brahmacarya, adding a cautionary example about negligent or half-hearted practice.