Shloka 4

Brahma-vidyā: Satya–Tapas and the Enumeration of Tattvas

Arjuna–Vāsudeva framed dialogue

Devanagari script

भगवन्तं प्रपन्नो5हं नि:श्रेयसपरायण: । याचे त्वां शिरसा विप्र यद्‌ ब्रूयां ब्रूहि तन्मम

Transliteration

bhagavantaṃ prapanno ’haṃ niḥśreyasaparāyaṇaḥ | yāce tvāṃ śirasā vipra yad brūyāṃ brūhi tan mama ||

Translation

ମୁଁ ଭଗବାନଙ୍କ ଶରଣ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିଛି; ନିଃଶ୍ରେୟସକୁ ହିଁ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ କରିଛି। ହେ ବିପ୍ର! ମୁଁ ଶିର ନମାଇ ଯାଚନା କରୁଛି—ମୁଁ ଯାହା ପଚାରିବି, ତାହା ମୋତେ କହନ୍ତୁ।

Word by Word

• भगवन्तम्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रपन्नः: having taken refuge; surrendered
• प्रपन्नः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रपन्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम्
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• निःश्रेयस-परायणः: devoted to the highest good (final beatitude)
• निःश्रेयस-परायणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निःश्रेयसपरायण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• याचे: I beg; I request
• Type: Verb
• Root: याच्
• Form: Present, First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Accusative, Singular

• शिरसा: with (my) head; bowing the head
• शिरसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• विप्र: O brahmin; O sage
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• यत्: whatever; that which
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ब्रूयाम्: I might say; I may ask
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Optative, First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ब्रूहि: tell; speak
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मम: of me; my
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva
• vipra (a Brahmin-sage/teacher)
• śiṣya (disciple, implied by context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse models the proper attitude for liberation-oriented learning: humble surrender to a qualified teacher and a focused quest for niḥśreyasa—the highest, lasting good (often aligned with mokṣa). Ethical learning begins with reverence, clarity of aim, and readiness to be instructed.

What is happening in the narrative?

A seeker approaches a revered Brahmin-sage/teacher, bows in humility, and requests instruction. He frames his inquiry as a quest for ultimate welfare, asking the teacher to answer whatever he is about to ask—specifically, what constitutes true ‘śreyas’ (the good).