Shloka 8
Adhyāya 26 — Ekākṣara-Brahman (“Om”) and the Hṛdayastha Guru
Inner Teacher
तेषां प्रोवाच भगवान् श्रेय: समनुपृच्छताम् । ओमित्येकाक्षरं ब्रद्य ते श्रुत्वा प्राद्रवन् दिश:
teṣāṃ provāca bhagavān śreyaḥ samanupṛcchatām | om ity ekākṣaraṃ brahma dadau te śrutvā prādravan diśaḥ ||
Quand ces chercheurs interrogèrent sur le bien suprême, le Seigneur bienheureux le leur déclara : il leur donna le Brahman d’une seule syllabe — « Om ». À l’audition de ce son sacré du praṇava, ils s’élancèrent, chacun vers sa direction, comme si l’enseignement avait clos leur quête et les avait renvoyés sur la voie qui leur convenait.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The highest welfare (śreyaḥ) is indicated through the praṇava ‘Oṃ’, presented as the one-syllabled Brahman—an Upaniṣadic pointer to the Absolute and a concise object of contemplation.
A group of inquirers asks about what is truly beneficial; the divine speaker answers by imparting ‘Oṃ’. Upon hearing it, the listeners disperse to their respective directions, suggesting the instruction is complete and each proceeds on his own path of practice.