Shloka 24
यावद् रथपथस्तावदू रथेन स तु गच्छति । क्षीणे रथपदे विद्वान् रथमुत्सूज्य गच्छति,देखो, रथके द्वारा जानेवाला भी मूर्ख मनुष्य ऊँचे पर्वतके पास पहुँचकर कष्ट पाता रहता है, किंतु बुद्धिमान् मनुष्य जहाँतक रथ जानेका मार्ग है वहाँतक रथसे जाता है और जब रथका रास्ता समाप्त हो जाता है तब वह उसे छोड़कर पैदल यात्रा करता है
yāvad rathapathas tāvadū rathena sa tu gacchati | kṣīṇe rathapade vidvān ratham utsṛjya gacchati |
Vāyu said: “So long as there is a carriage-road, one proceeds by the chariot. When the chariot-track comes to an end, the wise person leaves the chariot behind and continues on foot. In the same way, a foolish traveler clings to a single means and suffers when the terrain changes, but the discerning adapt their method to the limits of the path.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Use appropriate means only as long as they are effective and fitting; when circumstances change, the wise relinquish attachment to a tool or method and proceed by a better-suited way. Clinging rigidly to one approach leads to needless suffering.
Vāyu illustrates a moral point through a travel metaphor: a chariot is useful on a proper road, but once the track ends, continuing with it is impractical. The example contrasts the foolish person’s stubbornness with the wise person’s discernment and flexibility.