Shloka 3

Adhyāya 48: Brahmopadeśa on Prāṇāyāma, Sāttvika Vṛtti, and the Sattva–Kṣetrajña Question

Devanagari script

निमेषमात्रमपि चेत्‌ संयम्यात्मानमात्मनि । गच्छत्यात्मप्रसादेन विदुषां प्राप्तिमव्ययाम्‌,जो एक निमेष भी अपने मनको आत्मामें एकाग्र कर लेता है, वह अन्त:करणकी प्रसन्नताको पाकर विद्दानोंको प्राप्त होनेवाली अक्षय गतिको पा जाता है

Transliteration

nimeṣamātram api cet saṁyamyātmānam ātmani | gacchaty ātmaprasādena viduṣāṁ prāptim avyayām ||

Translation

Vāyudeva sprach: „Selbst wenn es nur die Spanne eines einzigen Lidschlags ist: Wer sich zügelt und den Geist im Selbst (Ātman) sammelt, der erlangt durch die innere Heiterkeit und Gnade den unvergänglichen Zustand, den die Weisen erreichen.“

Word by Word

निमेषमात्रम्even for a mere moment (a blink)

अपिeven/also

चेत्if

संयम्यhaving restrained/controlled

आत्मानम्the self (mind/inner self)

आत्मनिin the self

गच्छतिgoes/attains

आत्मप्रसादेनby the serenity/clarity of the self (inner organ)

विदुषाम्of the wise

प्राप्तिम्attainment/state

अव्ययाम्imperishable

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyudeva (Wind-god)

ātman (the Self)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even momentary but genuine inward restraint—collecting the mind into the Self—can open the way to the imperishable goal; inner serenity (ātmaprasāda) is presented as the immediate spiritual catalyst leading toward the wise ones’ highest attainment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is instructing the listener(s) on the power of yoga-like self-restraint, emphasizing that even a brief instant of true concentration and inner composure can lead toward the enduring spiritual state sought by realized sages.