Shloka 47
Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga
Adhyātma-Upadeśa
हस्व॑ दीर्घ कृशं स्थूलं चतुरस््र तु वृत्तवत् । एवं द्वादशविस्तारं तेजसो रूपमुच्यते
hrasvaṁ dīrghaṁ kṛśaṁ sthūlaṁ caturasraṁ tu vṛttavat | evaṁ dvādaśa-vistāraṁ tejaso rūpam ucyate ||
Vāyu dit : «La forme du tejas, l’énergie rayonnante, est décrite comme ayant douze modes d’extension : elle peut paraître courte ou longue, mince ou épaisse, carrée ou bien arrondie. Ainsi, par ces dimensions et ces figures variées, on énonce la nature du “tejas”.»
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that ‘tejas’ (radiant/fire-like energy) is not confined to a single visible shape; it is understood through multiple modes of extension—contrasting dimensions (short/long, thin/thick) and geometries (square/round)—indicating a many-sided, descriptive approach to subtle principles.
Vāyu is speaking in an explanatory, instructional passage, defining how the form of ‘tejas’ is characterized. The focus is not on action but on doctrinal description—classifying the appearances or dimensions by which tejas is recognized.