Shloka 21

Prahlāda–Indra Saṃvāda: Kartṛtva (Agency) and Svabhāva (Nature) in the Causation of Karma

Devanagari script

अथवा न प्रवर्तेत योगतनन्‍्त्रैरुपक्रमेत्‌ येन तन्त्रयतस्तन्त्रं वृत्ति: स्थात्‌ तत्‌ तदाचरेत्‌

Transliteration

athavā na pravarteta yogatantrair upakramet | yena tantrayatas tantraṁ vṛttiḥ sthāt tat tad ācaret ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：若有人不能自然而然进入那种境界，便应当从瑜伽的诸般法门与戒律着手。凡是某一方法，若以严整之体系而修习，能令心之作用安定，并使行者安住于梵——就应当确切奉行那一法。若前述方式未能使梵在内心显现，瑜伽行者当以瑜伽为本，开启持久的修习，受持那些能令其牢固安住于梵的行持。

Word by Word

• {'athavā': 'or

• alternatively', 'na pravarteta': 'should not proceed/engage (naturally or spontaneously)', 'yoga-tantraiḥ': 'by the systematic disciplines/methods of yoga', 'upakramet': 'should begin

• should undertake', 'yena': 'by which

• through which', 'tantrayataḥ': 'of one who is disciplining/controlling

• practicing methodically', 'tantram': 'system

• disciplined procedure', 'vṛttiḥ': 'mental modification

• mode of functioning', 'sthāt': 'may stand

• may become steady/established', 'tat tat': 'that very (means), each such (practice) as applicable', 'ācaret': 'should practice

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Brahman
• yogin
• yoga

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

If direct inner realization does not arise, one should adopt systematic yogic discipline. The right practice is defined pragmatically: whatever method steadies the mind’s vṛttis and establishes one in Brahman should be undertaken.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on liberation and inner discipline, Bhishma advises the listener that when the higher state is not spontaneously attained, the seeker should begin structured yoga-practice and follow those observances that lead to stable absorption in Brahman.