Shloka 23
Brāhmaṇa-māhātmya: Tārkṣya’s instruction on tapas, satya, and svadharma
Chapter 182
बुद्धेरुत्तरकाला च वेदना दृश्यते बुध: । एष वै राजशार्दूल विधि: क्षेत्रज्ञभावन:,बुद्धिकी क्रियाके उत्तरकालमें भी विद्वान् पुरुषोंको एक अनुभूति दिखायी देती है। नृपश्रेष्ठ! यही क्षेत्रज्ष आत्माको प्रकाशित करनेवाली विधि है
buddher uttarākālā ca vedanā dṛśyate budhaḥ | eṣa vai rājaśārdūla vidhiḥ kṣetrajñabhāvanaḥ ||
«Aun después de que ha pasado la fase ulterior del intelecto, los sabios perciben todavía una conciencia sutil. Oh tigre entre los reyes, éste es en verdad el método por el cual se manifiesta el Conocedor del Campo (kṣetrajña), el Ser interior—señalando más allá de la mera actividad mental hacia la realización directa del ātman.»
सर्प उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that true awareness is not limited to the operations of बुद्धि (intellect). Even when intellectual activity subsides, the wise recognize a subtler, continuing अनुभूति (vedanā). This points to the kṣetrajña—the inner Self—as distinct from the mind, and recommends a discipline (vidhi) aimed at making that Self evident.
A serpent (सर्प) addresses a king respectfully as ‘rājaśārdūla’ and instructs him in a contemplative insight: beyond mental processes there is a perceivable inner awareness. The serpent frames this as a method for bringing the kṣetrajña (Self) to manifestation, shifting the dialogue from external events to inner realization.