Shloka 23
तमोगुण-निरूपण
Analysis of Tamas and its Marks
स्थावराणि च भूतानि पशवो वाहनानि च । क्रव्यादा दन््दशूकाश्न कृमिकीटविहंगमा:
sthāvarāṇi ca bhūtāni paśavo vāhanāni ca | kravyādā daṃśūka-aśnī kṛmi-kīṭa-vihaṅgamāḥ ||
Vāyu-deva said: “All beings—those that are immobile, the animals, and even the creatures used as mounts and conveyances—along with flesh-eaters, biting serpents, and the whole range of worms, insects, and birds: all these too are included (in the scope of beings under discussion).” The statement broadens moral attention beyond humans, reminding that dharma must account for the full web of life, including feared and ‘lowly’ creatures.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse expands the moral and philosophical field to include every category of living being—immobile life, animals, mounts, predators, snakes, worms, insects, and birds—implying that dharma and ethical consideration are not limited to humans or ‘noble’ creatures.
Vāyu-deva is speaking and enumerates classes of beings to clarify that the topic under discussion applies universally across life-forms, including those commonly feared (snakes) or disregarded (worms and insects).