Shloka 23
Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga
Adhyātma-Upadeśa
रथेन रथिनं पश्य क्लिश्यमानमचेतनम्
rathena rathinaṃ paśya kliśyamānam acetanam | yāvat rathasya gatiḥ panthāḥ tāvat rathena gacchati buddhimān | yatra rathasya mārgaḥ samāpyate tatra taṃ tyaktvā padbhyā yātrāṃ karoti ||
Vāyu berkata: “Lihatlah orang bodoh itu: walaupun dibawa oleh kereta, dia tetap menderita apabila sampai ke gunung yang curam. Orang bijaksana menaiki kereta hanya sejauh jalan mengizinkan; apabila jalan kereta berakhir, dia meninggalkannya lalu meneruskan perjalanan dengan berjalan kaki.” Ajarannya ialah menggunakan sarana dan alat dengan wajar—tidak melekat padanya melampaui batasnya, dan tidak menolaknya ketika ia bermanfaat.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Use tools and supports only within their proper limits. A wise person employs a means (like a chariot) where it works, and when it no longer serves the goal, he lets it go and proceeds by another suitable method—showing discernment rather than stubborn attachment.
Vāyudeva illustrates his counsel through a simple travel image: a fool suffers even while being conveyed by a chariot near difficult terrain, whereas a wise traveler adapts—riding while the road permits and walking when the road ends.