Shloka 21
अन्तर्वन-विद्यारण्योपमा
The Allegory of the Inner Forest of Knowledge
नदियोंका संगम भी उसीके अत्यन्त गूढ़ हृदयाकाशमें संक्षेपसे होता है। जहाँ योगरूपी यज्ञका विस्तार होता रहता है। वही साक्षात् पितामहका स्वरूप है। आत्मज्ञानसे तृप्त पुरुष उसीको प्राप्त होते हैं
nadyāḥ saṅgamo 'pi tasyaiva atyanta-gūḍha-hṛdayākāśe saṅkṣepeṇa bhavati | yatra yoga-rūpī-yajñasya vistāro vartate | sa eva sākṣāt pitāmahasya svarūpaḥ | ātma-jñānena tṛptāḥ puruṣāḥ tam eva prāpnuvanti |
Pertemuan sungai-sungai pun, secara ringkas, terhimpun di dalam ‘langit batin’ hati yang amat dalam itu. Di sanalah yajña yang berupa Yoga terus mengembang dalam keluasan penuhnya. Kenyataan itu tidak lain adalah wujud nyata Sang Pitāmaha (Brahmā). Mereka yang dipuaskan oleh pengetahuan tentang Diri mencapai itulah semata.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the ultimate sacred ‘meeting place’ is internal: within the subtle heart-space where yoga itself functions as an ongoing yajña. Real fulfillment comes from ātma-jñāna, and those established in that knowledge attain the supreme reality identified here with Pitāmaha (Brahmā) as a symbol of the cosmic source.
A Brāhmaṇa speaker delivers a contemplative instruction, shifting attention from external holy sites (like river confluences) to an inward pilgrimage. He frames yogic discipline as a living sacrifice and points to realization—rather than ritual travel—as the means by which the wise reach the highest principle.