Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 25
Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga
Adhyātma-Upadeśa
एवं गच्छति मेधावी तत्त्वयोगविधानवित् । परिज्ञाय गुणज्ञश्न उत्तरादुत्तरोत्तरम्,इसी प्रकार तत्त्व और योगविधिको जाननेवाला बुद्धिमान एवं गुणज्ञ पुरुष अच्छी तरह समझ-बूझकर उत्तरोत्तर आगे बढ़ता जाता है
evaṃ gacchati medhāvī tattvayogavidhānavit | parijñāya guṇajñaś ca uttarād uttarottaram ||
Thus the wise person—one who understands the principles of reality and the disciplines of yoga—moves onward. Having clearly discerned the qualities (guṇas) and their workings, he advances step by step, rising from one higher stage to the next, with steady understanding and self-mastery.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
True progress is gradual and discriminative: the wise practitioner who knows tattva (reality) and the method of yoga advances by clearly understanding the guṇas and moving from one higher level of clarity and discipline to the next.
Vāyudeva is describing the inner journey of a discerning seeker: through knowledge of principles and yogic method, and by recognizing the guṇas, the person steadily ascends in spiritual development.