Shloka 41
Vyaktāvyakta-Viveka and Nivṛtti as Paramā Gati
Manifest–Unmanifest Discrimination and the Supreme Path of Withdrawal
अग्निदरिंगतो यद्वद् भिन्ने दारौ न दृश्यते । तथैवात्मा शरीरस्थो योगेनैवानुदृश्यते
agnir dāru-gato yadvat bhinne dārau na dṛśyate | tathaivātmā śarīra-stho yogenaivānudṛśyate ||
毗湿摩阐释：正如火虽遍满一段木头，即便将木头劈开也仍不可见；同样，真我住于身中，却不为目所睹。唯有通过瑜伽——严谨的内修——方能领会那内在实相，犹如以适当方法使木中之火显现。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The Self is present within the body but is not an object of ordinary perception; it is realized through yoga—disciplined practice that refines attention and insight—just as hidden fire in wood becomes evident only through the proper method.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on peace and liberation, Bhīṣma is teaching Yudhiṣṭhira about inner knowledge: he uses a concrete analogy (fire hidden in wood) to clarify why the ātman is not seen by mere physical examination and why yogic practice is required for direct realization.