Shloka 23
Brahma-vidyā: Satya–Tapas and the Enumeration of Tattvas
Arjuna–Vāsudeva framed dialogue
भूतभव्यभविष्यादि धर्मकामार्थनि श्चयम् । सिद्धसंघपरिज्ञातं पुराकल्पं सनातनम्,महाप्राज्ञ! जिसमें भूत, वर्तमान और भविष्य आदिके तथा धर्म, अर्थ और कामके स्वरूपका निश्चय किया गया है, जिसको सिद्धोंके समुदायने भलीभाँति जाना है, जिसका पूर्वकालमें निर्णय किया गया था और बुद्धिमान् पुरुष जिसे जानकर सिद्ध हो जाते हैं, उस परम उत्तम सनातन ज्ञानका अब मैं तुमसे वर्णन करता हूँ
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 said: “O great sage, I shall now describe to you that supreme, eternal knowledge—wherein the nature of past, present, and future is decisively understood, and likewise the true measure of dharma, artha, and kāma. It has been well comprehended by the assemblies of perfected beings, was determined in ancient time, and by knowing it the wise attain spiritual fulfillment.”
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.