Shloka 52
Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga
Adhyātma-Upadeśa
तत्रैकगुणमाकाशं शब्द इत्येव च स्मृत: । आकाशका शब्दमात्र एक ही गुण माना गया है। उस शब्दके बहुत-से गुण हैं। उनका विस्तारके साथ वर्णन करता हूँ ।। ५१ है ।। तस्य शब्दस्य वक्ष्यामि विस्तरेण बहून् गुणान्
tatraikaguṇam ākāśaṃ śabda ity eva ca smṛtaḥ | tasya śabdasya vakṣyāmi vistareṇa bahūn guṇān ||
Vāyu-deva said: “In this context, space (ākāśa) is remembered as possessing a single quality—sound (śabda) alone. Now I shall describe, in detail, the many aspects and properties of that sound.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse states a classical doctrine of the subtle elements: ākāśa (space/ether) is characterized by a single primary quality—śabda (sound). It frames an upcoming detailed exposition on the nature and properties of sound.
Vāyu-deva is speaking in an instructional mode, shifting from a brief definition (ākāśa has sound as its sole quality) to a promised, expanded explanation of śabda’s various properties.