Shloka 4
Adhyāya 26 — Ekākṣara-Brahman (“Om”) and the Hṛdayastha Guru
Inner Teacher
एक: श्रोता नास्ति ततो द्वितीयो यो हृच्छयस्तमहमनुब्रवीमि । तस्मिन् गुरौ गुरुवासं निरुष्य शक्रो गत: सर्वलोकामरत्वम्,एक ही श्रोता है, दूसरा नहीं। जो हृदयमें स्थित परमात्मा है, उसीको मैं श्रोता कहता हूँ। इन्द्रने उसीको गुरु मानकर गुरुकुलवासका नियम पूरा किया अर्थात् शिष्यभावसे वे उस अन्तर्यामीकी ही शरणमें गये। इससे उन्हें सम्पूर्ण लोकोंका साम्राज्य और अमरत्व प्राप्त हुआ
ekaḥ śrotā nāsti tato dvitīyo yo hṛcchayas tam aham anubravīmi | tasmin gurau guruvāsaṃ nirūṣya śakro gataḥ sarvalokāmaratvam ||
“There is only one true listener; there is no second. The one who abides within the heart—Him I acknowledge as the listener. Having fulfilled the discipline of dwelling with that Guru, Śakra (Indra) attained sovereignty over all worlds and immortality.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the ultimate ‘listener’ and true authority is the indwelling Lord in the heart. Real discipleship is not merely external study but faithful completion of discipline under this inner guide—acting with humility and integrity before the inner witness.
A Brahmin speaker explains that there is only one genuine hearer of instruction—the heart-dwelling divine. He cites Indra (Śakra) as an example: by treating that inner presence as his guru and fulfilling the rule of ‘guruvāsa’ (disciplined pupilhood), Indra attained universal sovereignty and immortality.