Shloka 19
Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga
Adhyātma-Upadeśa
यथाध्वानमपाथेय: प्रपन्नो मनुज: क्वचित् । क्लेशेन याति महता विनश्येदन्तरापि च
yathādhvānam apātheyaḥ prapanno manuṣaḥ kvacit | kleśena yāti mahatā vinaśyed antarāpi ca ||
ヴァーユは言った。「路の糧を備えずに旅立つ者は、大いなる苦労のうちに進むほかなく、途中で命を落とすことさえある。これと同じく、正しい行い・自制・備えという内なる資糧を欠いて人生の道を歩む者は、苦患と破滅にさらされる。」
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that undertaking any major course—especially the moral and spiritual journey of life—requires proper ‘provisions’: foresight, discipline, and dharmic conduct. Without these supports, one is forced into severe hardship and may fail before reaching the goal.
Vāyudeva speaks in a didactic tone, using a concrete travel metaphor: a traveler without supplies suffers greatly and may die on the way. The image is used to warn the listener about the dangers of proceeding without adequate preparation and inner resources.