Shloka 3

Brahma-vidyā: Satya–Tapas and the Enumeration of Tattvas

Arjuna–Vāsudeva framed dialogue

Devanagari script

वश्चिद्‌ ब्राह्मणमासीनमाचार्य संशितव्रतम्‌ । शिष्य: पप्रच्छ मेधावी किंस्विच्छेय: परंतप

Transliteration

vaya-deva uvāca | vaścid brāhmaṇam āsīnam ācāryaṁ saṁśita-vratam | śiṣyaḥ papraccha medhāvī kiṁsvid śreyaḥ paraṁtapa ||

Translation

वायु बोले—एक बार उत्तम व्रतों में दृढ़ एक ब्राह्मण आचार्य अपने आसन पर बैठे थे। तब एक मेधावी शिष्य ने उनके पास जाकर पूछा—“परंतप! वास्तव में श्रेय क्या है?”

Word by Word

• कश्चित्: a certain (someone)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कश्चित् (किम् + चित्)

• ब्राह्मणम्: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आसीनम्: seated
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आस् (धातु) → आसीन (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आचार्यम्: teacher, preceptor
• आचार्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• संशितव्रतम्: of well-sharpened/strict vows; of firm observances
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशित-व्रत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शिष्यः: disciple
• शिष्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पप्रच्छ: asked
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मेधावी: intelligent, wise
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेधाविन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• किम्: what
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• स्वित्: indeed? (interrogative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वित्

• श्रेयः: the good; the highest good; welfare
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• परंतप: O scorcher of foes (Arjuna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परंतप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
• a Brahmin ācārya (teacher)
• a medhāvī śiṣya (wise disciple)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a classical ethical-spiritual inquiry: a discerning student seeks ‘śreyas’—the truly beneficial, liberating good—by approaching a disciplined teacher, implying that ultimate welfare is to be learned through humble questioning and guidance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu introduces an old account: a vow-observant Brahmin teacher is seated, and a wise disciple comes forward to ask what constitutes the highest good, setting up a teaching dialogue on liberation-oriented values.