Shloka 41
Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga
Adhyātma-Upadeśa
पार्थिवश्च सदा गन्धो गन्धश्न बहुधा स्मृत: । तस्य गन्धस्य वक्ष्यामि विस्तरेण बहून् गुणान्
pārthivaś ca sadā gandho gandhaś ca bahudhā smṛtaḥ | tasya gandhasya vakṣyāmi vistareṇa bahūn guṇān |
Vāyu-deva dit : «Dans la terre, le parfum est toujours présent comme sa qualité distinctive, et l’“odeur” est dite de maintes sortes. Je vais maintenant exposer en détail les nombreuses propriétés et vertus de ce parfum.»
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse states a classical doctrine of the elements: earth is characterized by smell (gandha), and smell itself has many varieties; the speaker promises a systematic account of its properties.
Vāyu-deva continues a didactic explanation about the natural elements and their defining qualities, turning specifically to earth and introducing an extended discussion of fragrance/smell.