Adhyāya 34: Kṣetrajña-Lakṣaṇa and the Araṇi Metaphor
Mind–Intellect Allegory
ब्राह्मण उवाच अरणीं ब्राह्माणीं विद्धि गुरुरस्पोत्तरारणि: । तपःश्रुतेडभिमथ्नीतो ज्ञानाग्निर्जायते तत:
brāhmaṇa uvāca | araṇīṁ brāhmaṇīṁ viddhi gurur asyottarāraṇiḥ | tapaḥ-śruteḍ abhimathnīto jñānāgnir jāyate tataḥ |
ब्राह्मण म्हणाला—देवि! बुद्धी ही खालची अरणी आणि गुरु ही तिची वरची अरणी असे जाण. तपस्या तसेच वेद-वेदांताचे श्रवण व मननरूपी मंथन केल्यावर त्या दोहोंच्या संयोगातून ज्ञानरूपी अग्नी प्रकट होतो.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
True knowledge arises through the combined ‘friction’ of a competent teacher’s guidance and the student’s inner instrument (intellect), energized by disciplined practice (tapas) and sustained listening and reflection on scripture (śruti).
A Brahmin instructs a woman addressed as ‘brāhmaṇī’, using the Vedic image of kindling fire with two araṇis to explain how spiritual insight is generated: guru and intellect, when ‘churned’ by austerity and scriptural study, produce the illuminating fire of knowledge.