Shloka 16
Kāma–Mamatā–Upadeśa
Discourse on Desire, Possessiveness, and Ritual Duty
यो मां प्रयतते हन्तुं धृत्या सत्यपराक्रम: । भावो भवामि तस्याहं स च मां नावबुध्यते
yo māṃ prayatate hantuṃ dhṛtyā satyaparākramaḥ | bhāvo bhavāmi tasyāhaṃ sa ca māṃ nāvabudhyate ||
वायु ने कहा—जो सत्यपराक्रमी पुरुष धैर्य के बल से मुझे नष्ट करने की चेष्टा करता है, उसके मानसिक भावों में मैं ऐसा घुल-मिल जाता हूँ कि वह मुझे अलग से पहचान नहीं पाता।
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even sincere strength and determination can fail without discernment: a subtle power (here Vāyu) can blend into one’s own mental impulses (bhāva), making the true cause of action hard to detect. The verse points to the ethical need for self-knowledge and clarity about what drives one’s efforts.
Vāyu speaks about his elusiveness: when a truly valorous person tries to overcome him with steadfast effort, Vāyu becomes indistinguishable from that person’s own inner states, so the person cannot identify Vāyu as a separate force.