Shloka 5
Brahmopadeśa on Saṃnyāsa, Tapas, and Jñāna (ब्रह्मोपदेशः—संन्यासतपोज्ञानविमर्शः)
तप: प्रदीप इत्याहुराचारो धर्मसाधकः । ज्ञानं वै परमं विद्यात् संन्यासं तप उत्तमम्,ज्ञानी पुरुषोंका कहना है कि तपस्या (परमात्म-तत्त्वको प्रकाशित करनेवाला) दीपक है, आचार धर्मका साधक है, ज्ञान परब्रह्मका स्वरूप है और संन्यास ही उत्तम तप है
tapaḥ pradīpa ity āhur ācāro dharmasādhakaḥ | jñānaṃ vai paramaṃ vidyāt saṃnyāsaṃ tapa uttamam ||
Vāyu-deva said: “They declare austerity to be a lamp that illumines the highest reality; right conduct is what accomplishes dharma. Know true knowledge to be the supreme principle itself, and understand renunciation to be the finest form of austerity.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse ranks and connects key spiritual disciplines: tapas illuminates truth like a lamp, ethical conduct is the practical means to establish dharma, true knowledge is the supreme reality to be realized, and renunciation—giving up attachment and egoic claim—is the highest form of austerity.
Vāyu-deva is speaking in a didactic context, offering a concise teaching on the hierarchy of spiritual practice—moving from disciplined effort (tapas) and right conduct (ācāra) toward realization (jñāna) and culminating in renunciation (saṃnyāsa) as the most refined austerity.