Shloka 19
Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga
Adhyātma-Upadeśa
यथाध्वानमपाथेय: प्रपन्नो मनुज: क्वचित् । क्लेशेन याति महता विनश्येदन्तरापि च
yathādhvānam apātheyaḥ prapanno manuṣaḥ kvacit | kleśena yāti mahatā vinaśyed antarāpi ca ||
Vāyu sprach: „Wie ein Mann, der ohne Wegzehrung aufbricht, nur unter großer Mühsal vorankommt und sogar unterwegs zugrunde gehen kann, so ist auch derjenige dem Leid und dem Verderben preisgegeben, der den Lauf des Lebens ohne die nötigen inneren Mittel (rechte Lebensführung, Selbstzucht und Vorbereitung) antritt.“
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that undertaking any major course—especially the moral and spiritual journey of life—requires proper ‘provisions’: foresight, discipline, and dharmic conduct. Without these supports, one is forced into severe hardship and may fail before reaching the goal.
Vāyudeva speaks in a didactic tone, using a concrete travel metaphor: a traveler without supplies suffers greatly and may die on the way. The image is used to warn the listener about the dangers of proceeding without adequate preparation and inner resources.