Shloka 16

अव्यक्त–व्यक्त–कारणकार्यविवेकः

Avyakta–Vyakta and Causality: Discrimination of Field and Knower

Devanagari script

विषया विनिवर्तन्ते निराहारस्य देहिन: । रसवर्ज रसो<प्यस्य परं दृष्टवा निवर्तते

Transliteration

viṣayā vinivartante nirāhārasya dehinaḥ | rasavarjaṁ raso 'py asya paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate ||

Translation

毗湿摩说：对于戒绝感官享受之人，诸境虽退，然对其之“余味”仍存；但若得亲见至上实相，连这残余的贪著也将熄灭。此教诫表明：仅有外在克制并不圆满，必须以更高的证悟消融内在执著。

Word by Word

• विषयाः: sense-objects
• विषयाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विनिवर्तन्ते: turn back/cease
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नि-वृत्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Atmanepada, Third, Plural

• निराहारस्य: of one who abstains from food (fasting)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराहार
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• देहिनः: of the embodied being
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• रसवर्जम्: devoid of taste/relish
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रस-वर्ज
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• रसः: relish/attachment (taste)
• रसः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• अस्य: of him/of this (person)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• परम्: the Supreme (highest reality)
• परम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen/realized
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• निवर्तते: ceases/turns back (is withdrawn)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-वृत्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Atmanepada, Third, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Param (Supreme Reality/Paramātman)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

External withdrawal from sense-objects can stop indulgence, but the inner ‘taste’ (residual craving) may persist; only direct realization of the Supreme removes that subtle attachment completely.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and inner discipline, Bhīṣma teaches that true mastery over the senses is not merely abstinence but the transformation of desire through higher spiritual vision.