Shloka 6

Adhyāya 48: Brahmopadeśa on Prāṇāyāma, Sāttvika Vṛtti, and the Sattva–Kṣetrajña Question

Devanagari script

अनुमानाद्‌ विजानीम: पुरुष सत्त्वसंश्रयम्‌ । न शक्‍्यमन्यथा गन्तुं पुरुष द्विजसत्तमा:

Transliteration

anumānād vijānīmaḥ puruṣa sattvasaṃśrayam | na śakyam anyathā gantuṃ puruṣa dvijasattamāḥ ||

Translation

ବାୟୁ କହିଲେ— ଅନୁମାନ-ପ୍ରମାଣରେ ଆମେ ଜାଣୁ ଯେ ପରମ ପୁରୁଷ ସତ୍ତ୍ୱକୁ ଆଶ୍ରୟ କରି ଅବସ୍ଥିତ। ହେ ଦ୍ୱିଜଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ! ଅନ୍ୟଥା ସେହି ପୁରୁଷଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ କରିବା ସମ୍ଭବ ନୁହେଁ; ଏହି ତତ୍ତ୍ୱ ନ ବୁଝିଲେ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତି ହୁଏ ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• anumānāt: from inference
• anumānāt: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: anumāna
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• vijānīmaḥ: we know/understand
• vijānīmaḥ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (vi-)
• Form: Present, First, Plural, Parasmaipada

• puruṣa: O man / O Puruṣa
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• sattva-saṃśrayam: having refuge in sattva / resting on sattva
• sattva-saṃśrayam: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: sattva-saṃśraya
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na

• śakyam: possible
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √śak
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• anyathā: otherwise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā

• gantum: to go / to attain
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam
• Form: Tumun (infinitive)

• puruṣa: O Puruṣa
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• dvija-sattama: O best of the twice-born
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija-sattama
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
• Puruṣa (Supreme Person/Paramātman)
• Dvija (twice-born; Brahmin addressees)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that inferential reasoning (anumāna) can establish the presence of the Supreme Person as abiding in sattva (purity/clarity). It emphasizes that realization and attainment of the Supreme is not possible without understanding this principle—purifying and clarifying the inner being is integral to spiritual reach.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva addresses revered Brahmins (dvija-sattamas), presenting a doctrinal point: the Supreme Person’s relation to sattva and the necessity of correct understanding for attaining the highest goal. The speech functions as instruction within the Ashvamedhika Parva’s broader post-war spiritual and ethical discourse.