Shloka 21

कर्म–ज्ञान–दैव–स्वभावविचारः

Inquiry into Karma, Knowledge, Fate, and Nature

Devanagari script

कृतश्रम: कृतप्रज्ञो न च तृप्त: समाधित: । नित्ययुक्तो5प्रमत्तश्न तस्मात्‌ सर्वत्र पूजित:

Transliteration

kṛtaśramaḥ kṛtaprajño na ca tṛptaḥ samādhitaḥ | nityayukto 'pramattaś ca tasmāt sarvatra pūjitaḥ ||

Translation

He has undertaken and completed great exertion; his understanding has been refined and made steadfast. Even when established in samādhi, he is never sated with it and does not lapse into complacency. Ever disciplined and continually engaged in his duty, he remains free from negligence; therefore he is honored everywhere.

Word by Word

• {'kṛta-śramaḥ': 'one who has performed (great) effort

• one who has completed austerous exertion', 'kṛta-prajñaḥ': 'one whose discernment is accomplished/formed

• a person of mature, purified understanding', 'na ca': 'and not', 'tṛptaḥ': 'satisfied, satiated, complacent', 'samādhitaḥ': 'collected, composed

• established in samādhi (deep concentration)', 'nitya-yuktaḥ': 'always yoked/engaged

• constantly disciplined and devoted to practice or duty', 'apramattaḥ': 'non-negligent, vigilant, not careless', 'tasmāt': 'therefore, for that reason', 'sarvatra': 'everywhere, in all places/contexts', 'pūjitaḥ': 'honored, revered, worshipped'}

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Wind-god)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True spiritual maturity is shown not only by attaining concentration (samādhi) but by remaining vigilant and continually committed to one’s duties without negligence; such steadiness earns universal respect.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu (the Wind-god) is describing the qualities of an exemplary person—one who has labored in disciplined practice, possesses mature discernment, does not become complacent even in samādhi, and remains constantly attentive to rightful conduct—explaining why such a person is honored everywhere.