Shloka 11
Adhyāya 26 — Ekākṣara-Brahman (“Om”) and the Hṛdayastha Guru
Inner Teacher
एकं शास्तारमासाद्य शब्देनैकेन संस्कृता: । नाना व्यवसिता:ः सर्वे सर्पदेवर्षिदानवा:
ekaṃ śāstāram āsādya śabdenaikena saṃskṛtāḥ | nānā-vyavasitāḥ sarve sarpa-devarṣi-dānavāḥ ||
ಒಬ್ಬನೇ ಉಪದೇಶಕನ ಬಳಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಸರ್ಪಗಳು, ದೇವತೆಗಳು, ಋಷಿಗಳು, ದಾನವರು—ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಒಂದೇ ಪದದ ಉಪದೇಶದಿಂದ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತರಾದರು; ಆದರೂ ಅವರ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಭಿನ್ನ ವಿಭಿನ್ನ ಸಂಕಲ್ಪಗಳು ಉದಯಿಸಿದವು.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
A single instruction can be the same for everyone, but its ethical effect depends on the hearer’s inner nature (saṃskāra) and chosen intention (vyavasāya); responsibility for the outcome lies with the listener’s resolve.
Different classes of beings—serpents, gods, sages, and demons—approach one teacher and receive one-word instruction; despite identical teaching, they develop divergent attitudes and determinations, illustrating varied reception of the same counsel.