Shloka 24
Brahma-vidyā: Satya–Tapas and the Enumeration of Tattvas
Arjuna–Vāsudeva framed dialogue
प्रवक्ष्येडहं महाप्राज्ञ पदमुत्तममद्य ते । बुद्ध्वा यदिह संसिद्धा भवन्तीह मनीषिण:,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
pravakṣye ’dahaṁ mahāprājña padam uttamam adya te | buddhvā yad iha saṁsiddhā bhavantīha manīṣiṇaḥ ||
Vāyu said: “O great-minded one, today I shall declare to you that supreme state (or highest truth). Having understood it here in this very life, the wise become perfected here—attaining spiritual fulfillment through clear knowledge rather than mere ritual or speculation.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vāyu introduces the ‘supreme goal’ (padam uttamam) and emphasizes that true perfection is attainable through understanding—wisdom that transforms one’s life here and now, leading to spiritual completion.
Vāyudeva begins an instructive discourse, addressing a ‘mahāprājña’ listener and announcing that he will explain the highest truth whose realization makes the wise ‘perfected’ even within this life.