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Shloka 22

Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga

Adhyātma-Upadeśa

तमेव च यथाध्यानं रथेनेहाशुगामिना । गच्छत्यश्वप्रयुक्तेन तथा बुद्धिमतां गति:

tam eva ca yathādhyānaṁ rathenehāśugāminā | gacchaty aśvaprayuktena tathā buddhimatāṁ gatiḥ ||

Vāyu berkata: “Sebagaimana seseorang mencapai tujuan itu sendiri melalui renungan yang terpusat, demikian juga—di dunia ini—seseorang bergerak pantas dengan kereta yang dipasangkan kuda. Begitulah juga halnya: haluan orang bijaksana ialah menggerakkan akal yang terlatih dan terarah dengan baik menuju penghujung yang diniatkan.”

तम्him/that (person)
तम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
एवindeed/just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
यथाas/according to
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
ध्यानम्meditation/contemplation
ध्यानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootध्यान
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
रथेनby/with a chariot
रथेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootरथ
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
इहhere/in this world
इह:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइह
आशुगामिनाswift-going
आशुगामिना:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootआशुगामिन्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
गच्छतिgoes/proceeds
गच्छति:
TypeVerb
Rootगम्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
अश्वप्रयुक्तेनyoked/attached to horses
अश्वप्रयुक्तेन:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootअश्वप्रयुक्त
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
तथाso/likewise
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
बुद्धिमताम्of the intelligent/wise
बुद्धिमताम्:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootबुद्धिमत्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
गतिःcourse/way/progress
गतिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootगति
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular

वायुदेव उवाच

वायुदेव (Vāyu-deva)
रथ (chariot)
अश्व (horses)
ध्यान (meditation)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches that wise progress is purposeful and disciplined: as meditation steadily reaches its object, so a well-yoked chariot swiftly reaches its destination. Intelligence, when properly directed, becomes a vehicle for attaining one’s rightful goal.

Vāyu-deva is speaking and uses an analogy: meditation is compared to a swift chariot drawn by horses. The point is to illustrate how the wise move toward their aim—through controlled, well-harnessed faculties and focused intent.