Shloka 231
अन्तर्वन-विद्यारण्योपमा
The Allegory of the Inner Forest of Knowledge
नदीनां सड़मश्नैव वैताने समुपद्लरे । स्वात्मतृप्ता यतो यान्ति साक्षादेव पितामहम्
nadīnāṁ saḍam aśnaiva vaitāne samupadlāre | svātma-tṛptā yato yānti sākṣād eva pitāmaham ||
The Brāhmaṇa said: “In the sacrificial rite, they partake of the saḍa offering; and, being inwardly satisfied in their own self, they proceed from there to Pitāmaha himself—directly.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links correct Vedic sacrificial practice with an inner state of self-satisfaction (svātma-tṛpti), presenting the highest fruit as direct attainment of Pitāmaha (Brahmā). It implies that ritual efficacy is not merely external performance but is fulfilled when accompanied by inner completeness.
A Brāhmaṇa speaker describes the outcome of participants in a vaitāna (Vedic sacrificial) rite: after partaking of the saḍa offering, they depart from that rite and are said to reach Pitāmaha (Brahmā) directly, emphasizing the rite’s promised spiritual destination.