Shloka 44

Brahma-vidyā: Satya–Tapas and the Enumeration of Tattvas

Arjuna–Vāsudeva framed dialogue

Devanagari script

श्रद्धालक्षणमित्येवं धर्म धीरा: प्रचक्षते । इत्येवं देवयाना व: पन्थान: परिकीर्तिता: । सद्धिरध्यासिता धीरै: कर्मभिर्धर्मसेतव:,दिद्वानोंने श्रद्धाको ही धर्मका मुख्य लक्षण बतलाया है। इस प्रकार आपलोगोंके प्रति देवयान मार्गोका वर्णन किया गया है। धैर्यवान्‌ संत-महात्मा अपने कर्मोंसे धर्म-मर्यादाका पालन करते हैं

Transliteration

śraddhā-lakṣaṇam ity evaṁ dharmaṁ dhīrāḥ pracakṣate | ity evaṁ devayānā vaḥ panthānaḥ parikīrtitāḥ | sādhibhir adhyāsitā dhīraiḥ karmabhir dharma-setavaḥ ||

Translation

Vāyu said: “Thus the wise declare that faith (śraddhā) is the defining mark of dharma. In this way, the paths called ‘Devayāna’ have been described to you. Steadfast and discerning saints uphold the boundaries of dharma through their deeds, establishing firm bridges that carry one across to righteousness.”

Word by Word

• {'śraddhā': 'faith, trustful reverence

• an inner assent that sustains right practice', 'lakṣaṇam': 'defining characteristic, distinguishing mark', 'dharma': 'righteous order

• duty, moral law, sustaining principle', 'dhīrāḥ': 'steadfast, wise, self-possessed persons', 'pracakṣate': 'declare, describe, state authoritatively', 'devayānāḥ': 'the ‘path of the gods’

• an auspicious upward course contrasted with other post-mortem paths', 'vaḥ': 'to you (plural)', 'panthānaḥ': 'paths, ways, courses', 'parikīrtitāḥ': 'fully recounted, proclaimed, described in detail', 'sādhibhiḥ (sadbhiḥ)': 'by the good, by virtuous persons', 'adhyāsitāḥ': 'practised, inhabited, firmly followed', 'karmabhiḥ': 'by actions, through deeds', 'dharma-setavaḥ': 'bridges of dharma

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva (Wind-god)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that śraddhā—sincere, reverent faith—is a primary hallmark of dharma, and that dharma is upheld not merely by words but by steady, virtuous action that becomes a ‘bridge’ for oneself and others.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is addressing his listeners, summarizing and concluding an explanation of the Devayāna paths, emphasizing that wise and saintly people maintain dharma’s boundaries through their conduct.