Shloka 20
Adhyāya 42 — Mahābhūta–Indriya–Adhyātma-Vyavasthā
Brahmā’s Instruction on Elements and Faculties
तृतीयं ज्योतिरित्याहुश्नक्षुरध्यात्ममुच्यते
tṛtīyaṃ jyotir ity āhuḥ nakṣur adhyātmam ucyate
ବାୟୁ କହିଲେ— ‘ତୃତୀୟ ଜ୍ୟୋତି’ ବୋଲି ଯାହାକୁ କୁହନ୍ତି; ସେହିଟି ଚକ୍ଷୁର ଅଧ୍ୟାତ୍ମ—ଯାହାଦ୍ୱାରା ବାହ୍ୟ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟକୁ ଅତିକ୍ରମ କରି ଆତ୍ମାକୁ ଦେଖାଯାଏ।
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse points to a higher kind of illumination beyond ordinary sensory light: an inward, spiritual ‘light’ identified with adhyātma—self-knowledge or inner realization—through which one discerns the Self and right understanding.
Vāyudeva is speaking in a didactic context, defining a doctrinal term: he explains that what some call the ‘third light’ is actually the inner spiritual faculty (adhyātma), shifting attention from external perception to inward realization.