Shloka 12
Adhyāya 249 — Mṛtyu-prādurbhāvaḥ (The Manifestation of Death) / Restraint of Tejas and Ordered Saṃhāra
सर्वतःस्रोतसं घोरां नदीं लोकप्रवाहिनीम् । पज्चेन्द्रियग्राहवती मन:संकल्परोधसम्
sarvataḥ-srotasaṃ ghorāṃ nadīṃ loka-pravāhinīm | pañcendriya-grāhavatī manaḥ-saṅkalpa-rodhasam ||
毗耶娑说：“此轮回（saṃsāra）如一条可怖的大河，裹挟诸世界而流。其支流向四方奔注。河中五根如五鳄，心之意向与想象化作两岸。未能制伏其心者，渡之甚难；然以清净之慧，便能越过彼岸。”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Saṃsāra is portrayed as a dangerous river: the senses seize like crocodiles and the mind’s constructions shape one’s boundaries. The implied teaching is that liberation requires restraint of the senses and purification of the intellect so one can ‘cross’ beyond worldly bondage.
Vyāsa is instructing the listener through an extended metaphor. He characterizes worldly life as a powerful current that sweeps beings along, warning of inner dangers (senses and mental resolve) and pointing toward the means of overcoming them (self-control and purified understanding).