Shloka 3
Brahma-vidyā: Satya–Tapas and the Enumeration of Tattvas
Arjuna–Vāsudeva framed dialogue
वश्चिद् ब्राह्मणमासीनमाचार्य संशितव्रतम् । शिष्य: पप्रच्छ मेधावी किंस्विच्छेय: परंतप
vaya-deva uvāca | vaścid brāhmaṇam āsīnam ācāryaṁ saṁśita-vratam | śiṣyaḥ papraccha medhāvī kiṁsvid śreyaḥ paraṁtapa ||
Vāyu berkata: “Pada suatu ketika, seorang ācārya brāhmaṇa yang teguh dalam laku tapa dan ikrar disiplin duduk di tempatnya. Lalu seorang murid yang cerdas mendekat dan bertanya, ‘Wahai penakluk musuh, apakah sesungguhnya śreyas—kebaikan tertinggi itu?’”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.
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.