Shloka 38

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

Arjuna–Vāsudeva framed dialogue

Devanagari script

पन्थानं व: प्रवक्ष्यामि शिवं क्षेमकरं द्विजा: । नियतं ब्रह्मुभावाय गत पूर्व मनीषिभि:

Transliteration

panthānaṃ vaḥ pravakṣyāmi śivaṃ kṣemakaraṃ dvijāḥ | niyataṃ brahmabhāvāya gata-pūrva-manīṣibhiḥ ||

Translation

I shall declare to you, O twice-born ones, a path that is auspicious and brings true security. It is a sure means to attain the state of Brahman, a way already trodden by the sages of old. Listen with attentive minds.

Word by Word

• {'panthānam': 'path, way (spiritual course of practice)', 'vaḥ': 'to you (plural)', 'pravakṣyāmi': 'I will explain, I will teach', 'śivam': 'auspicious, beneficent, conducive to well-being', 'kṣemakaram': 'bringing safety, welfare, peace

• beneficial', 'dvijāḥ': 'twice-born (Brahmins

• also ritually initiated classes in general)', 'niyatam': 'certain, assured, fixed (as a reliable means)', 'brahmabhāvāya': 'for Brahman-state

• for realization/attainment of Brahman', 'gata-pūrva': 'gone before

• previously traversed', 'manīṣibhiḥ': 'by the wise, sages, discerning thinkers (instrumental plural)'}

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva (Wind-god)
• dvijāḥ (twice-born Brahmins)
• manīṣibhiḥ (ancient sages/wise ones)
• brahman (Brahman-state)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Vāyu promises to teach an auspicious and welfare-giving spiritual path that reliably leads to brahman-bhāva (realization/attainment of Brahman), emphasizing that it is validated by the precedent of ancient sages.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Ashvamedhika Parva, Vāyudeva addresses the dvijas and introduces an authoritative instruction: he is about to expound a time-honored route to the highest spiritual goal, framing it as both ethically beneficial (kṣema) and spiritually elevating (brahman-bhāva).