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Shloka 12

Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga

Adhyātma-Upadeśa

सर्वैरपि गुणैरविंद्वान्‌ व्यतिषक्तो न लिप्यते | जलबिन्दुर्यथा लोल: पद्मिनीपत्रसंस्थित:

sarvair api guṇair avindvān vyatiṣakto na lipyate | jalabindur yathā lolaḥ padminīpatrasaṁsthitaḥ ||

قال فايُو-ديفا: وإن كان المرء محاطًا ومتشابكًا مع شتّى الصفات والأحوال، فإذا بقي غير متعلّقٍ بها لم يتلطّخ بها. كما أنّ قطرة ماءٍ مرتجفةً إذا استقرّت على ورقة اللوتس لا تلتصق بها، كذلك يبقى الحكماء في العالم دون أن تدنّسهم ملامساته.

सर्वैःby all
सर्वैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
अपिeven/also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
गुणैःqualities/virtues
गुणैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootगुण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
अविन्द्वान्not learned, not wise
अविन्द्वान्:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअविद्वस् (विद्वस्) / √विद् (to know)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
व्यतिषक्तःentangled/attached (amid them)
व्यतिषक्तः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootव्यतिषक्त (ppp of √सञ्ज्/√सज् with vi-ati-; 'entangled/attached')
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
लिप्यतेis tainted/defiled
लिप्यते:
TypeVerb
Root√लिप् (to smear, taint)
FormPresent, Passive (Ātmanepada form), 3rd, Singular
जलबिन्दुःa drop of water
जलबिन्दुः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजलबिन्दु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
यथाas/just as
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
लोलःtrembling/unsteady
लोलः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootलोल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पद्मिनीपत्रसंस्थितःsituated on a lotus-leaf
पद्मिनीपत्रसंस्थितः:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootपद्मिनीपत्रसंस्थित (ppp of सम्-√स्था 'to stand/be situated')
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

वायुदेव उवाच

वायुदेव (Vāyu-deva)
जलबिन्दु (water-drop)
पद्मिनीपत्र (lotus leaf)

Educational Q&A

One should live amidst the guṇas and worldly contacts without inner clinging; true freedom is to remain unstained—like water on a lotus leaf—by practicing non-attachment and self-governance.

Vāyu-deva instructs through a vivid simile: although a person may be surrounded by many influences and qualities, he need not be morally or spiritually tainted if he does not grasp or identify with them.