Shloka 3

Brahma-vidyā: Satya–Tapas and the Enumeration of Tattvas

Arjuna–Vāsudeva framed dialogue

Devanagari script

वश्चिद्‌ ब्राह्मणमासीनमाचार्य संशितव्रतम्‌ । शिष्य: पप्रच्छ मेधावी किंस्विच्छेय: परंतप

Transliteration

vaya-deva uvāca | vaścid brāhmaṇam āsīnam ācāryaṁ saṁśita-vratam | śiṣyaḥ papraccha medhāvī kiṁsvid śreyaḥ paraṁtapa ||

Translation

Vāyu said: “Once, a Brahmin teacher—steadfast in disciplined vows—was seated in his place. Then a wise disciple approached him and asked, ‘O subduer of foes, what indeed is the highest good (śreyas)?’”

Word by Word

• कश्चित्: a certain (someone)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कश्चित् (किम् + चित्)

• ब्राह्मणम्: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आसीनम्: seated
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आस् (धातु) → आसीन (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आचार्यम्: teacher, preceptor
• आचार्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• संशितव्रतम्: of well-sharpened/strict vows; of firm observances
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशित-व्रत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शिष्यः: disciple
• शिष्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पप्रच्छ: asked
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मेधावी: intelligent, wise
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेधाविन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• किम्: what
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• स्वित्: indeed? (interrogative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वित्

• श्रेयः: the good; the highest good; welfare
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• परंतप: O scorcher of foes (Arjuna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परंतप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
• a Brahmin ācārya (teacher)
• a medhāvī śiṣya (wise disciple)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a classical ethical-spiritual inquiry: a discerning student seeks ‘śreyas’—the truly beneficial, liberating good—by approaching a disciplined teacher, implying that ultimate welfare is to be learned through humble questioning and guidance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu introduces an old account: a vow-observant Brahmin teacher is seated, and a wise disciple comes forward to ask what constitutes the highest good, setting up a teaching dialogue on liberation-oriented values.