Shloka 27
Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga
Adhyātma-Upadeśa
नावा चापि यथा प्राज्ञो विभागज्ञः स्वरित्रया । अश्रान्त: सलिले गच्छेच्छीघ्रं संतरते हृदम्
nāvā cāpi yathā prājño vibhāgajñaḥ svaritrayā | aśrāntaḥ salile gacchec chīghraṃ saṃtarate hṛdam ||
Vāyu berkata: “Seperti seorang bijaksana—mahir mengenal alur dan cabang jalan air—mengembara di atas perairan tanpa letih dengan perahu yang dayungnya baik lalu segera menyeberangi hamparan luas; demikian pula orang yang berdaya-beda menyeberangi lautan kewujudan duniawi. Dan setelah sampai ke tebing seberang, dia melepaskan keterikatan bahkan pada sarana yang telah membawanya menyeberang.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches non-attachment to instruments and supports once their purpose is fulfilled: as a traveler abandons possessiveness toward the boat after crossing, a wise person relinquishes clinging to prior aids and accomplishments after transcending worldly bondage.
Vāyudeva is instructing through an analogy: a skilled, intelligent traveler crosses a vast water expanse swiftly using a well-oared boat; likewise, one crosses the ‘ocean’ of worldly life by appropriate means and then lets go of attachment to those means upon reaching the goal.