Shloka 21
Brahmā’s Enumeration of Primacies (Ādi) and the Supremacy of Knowledge
Jñāna
इष्टं दत्त तपो5धीतं॑ व्रतानि नियमाश्च ये । सर्वमेतद् विनाशान्तं ज्ञानस्यान्तो न विद्यते,जितने भी यज्ञ, दान, तप, अध्ययन, व्रत और नियम हैं, उन सबका अन्तमें विनाश होता है, केवल ज्ञानका अन्त नहीं होता
iṣṭaṃ dattaṃ tapo 'dhītaṃ vratāni niyamāś ca ye | sarvam etad vināśāntaṃ jñānasyānto na vidyate ||
ବାୟୁ କହିଲେ— ଯଜ୍ଞ, ଦାନ, ତପ, ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରାଧ୍ୟୟନ, ବ୍ରତ ଓ ନିୟମ— ଏ ସବୁର ଶେଷ ବିନାଶ; କିନ୍ତୁ ଜ୍ଞାନର ଶେଷ ନାହିଁ।
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
All merit-producing actions—ritual sacrifice, charity, austerity, study, vows, and disciplines—are finite and ultimately perish, whereas true knowledge is presented as limitless and not subject to such termination.
Vāyudeva speaks as a teacher, contrasting external religious acts and observances with the enduring value of knowledge, steering the listener toward a higher, more lasting spiritual attainment.