Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 33
Adhyāya 51: Kṛṣṇa’s Leave-Taking and Departure for Dvārakā (द्वारकागमनानुमति)
य एवममृतं नित्यमग्राहां शश्वदक्षरम् । वश्यात्मानमसंश्लटिष्टं यो वेद न मृतो भवेत्
ya evam amṛtaṁ nityam agrāhyaṁ śaśvad akṣaram | vaśyātmānam asaṁśliṣṭaṁ yo veda na mṛto bhavet ||
वायु बोले—जो इस प्रकार चेतन आत्मा को अमृतस्वरूप, नित्य, इन्द्रियातीत, शाश्वत और अक्षर; जितेन्द्रिय तथा असंग जानता है, वह मृत्यु के बन्धन में नहीं पड़ता।
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Realized knowledge of the Self as immortal, imperishable, beyond sensory grasp, combined with self-mastery and non-attachment, frees one from the bondage of death—i.e., from fear, clinging, and the cycle of mortal limitation.
Vāyudeva is speaking a doctrinal instruction: he defines the nature of the true Self and states the fruit of knowing it—freedom from death’s bondage—thereby guiding the listener toward inner discipline and detachment.