Shloka 23
Brahma-vidyā: Satya–Tapas and the Enumeration of Tattvas
Arjuna–Vāsudeva framed dialogue
भूतभव्यभविष्यादि धर्मकामार्थनि श्चयम् । सिद्धसंघपरिज्ञातं पुराकल्पं सनातनम्
bhūtabhavyabhaviṣyādi dharmakāmārthaniścayam | siddhasaṅghaparijñātaṃ purākalpaṃ sanātanam, mahāprājña! yasmīn bhūta-vartamāna-bhaviṣyādīnāṃ tathā dharma-artha-kāmānāṃ svarūpasya niścayo kṛtaḥ, yaṃ siddhagaṇo bhūyaḥ samyag avagataḥ, yaḥ pūrvakāle viniścitaḥ, yaṃ viditvā buddhimantaḥ puruṣāḥ siddhā bhavanti, tasya paramottamasya sanātanasya jñānasya adhunāhaṃ tvāṃ prati varṇanaṃ kariṣyāmi
Vāyu bersabda: “Wahai mahāprājña, kini akan kuuraikan kepadamu pengetahuan tertinggi yang kekal—di mana hakikat masa lampau, kini, dan yang akan datang dipahami dengan pasti, demikian pula ukuran sejati dharma, artha, dan kāma. Ia telah dipahami baik oleh himpunan para siddha, ditetapkan sejak zaman purba, dan dengan mengetahuinya orang bijak mencapai kesempurnaan rohani.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse introduces an exposition of ‘eternal knowledge’ that clarifies the nature of time (past, present, future) and the proper understanding of the human aims—dharma (right order), artha (welfare), and kāma (desire). It frames this knowledge as time-tested, affirmed by perfected sages, and spiritually transformative for the wise.
Vāyudeva begins a didactic discourse, announcing that he will explain an ancient, authoritative doctrine. The emphasis is on the pedigree of the teaching—known to siddhas and settled in primordial times—before the detailed instruction that follows.