Shloka 25
Brahmopadeśa: Adhipatitva-kathana, Dharma-lakṣaṇa, and Kṣetra–Kṣetrajña Viveka
Book 14, Chapter 43
लक्षणं मनसो ध्यानमव्यक्त साधुलक्षणम्
lakṣaṇaṁ manaso dhyānam avyaktasādhulakṣaṇam | yogasya lakṣaṇaṁ pravṛttiḥ saṁnyāsasya lakṣaṇaṁ jñānam | tasmād buddhimān puruṣo jñānāśrayaṁ kṛtvā iha saṁnyāsaṁ gṛhṇīyāt ||
Vāyu dit : «Le signe de l’esprit est la méditation ; et le signe de l’homme véritablement bon est qu’il ne s’étale pas au dehors — il se connaît au-dedans, par une conscience directe de soi. Le signe du yoga est l’engagement discipliné dans l’action juste ; le signe du renoncement est la connaissance. Ainsi, le sage doit prendre refuge dans la connaissance et, ici même, dès maintenant, embrasser le renoncement.»
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
True virtue is primarily inward and not for display; yoga is characterized by disciplined engagement in rightful action, while renunciation is characterized by liberating knowledge. Hence one should ground oneself in knowledge and adopt renunciation in spirit (and, where appropriate, in life).
Vāyudeva is instructing the listener on how to recognize genuine spiritual attainment: by inner meditation and knowledge rather than external signs, and by understanding the distinct orientations of yoga (active discipline) and saṁnyāsa (knowledge-based renunciation).