Shloka 22

Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga

Adhyātma-Upadeśa

Devanagari script

तमेव च यथाध्यानं रथेनेहाशुगामिना । गच्छत्यश्वप्रयुक्तेन तथा बुद्धिमतां गति:

Transliteration

tam eva ca yathādhyānaṁ rathenehāśugāminā | gacchaty aśvaprayuktena tathā buddhimatāṁ gatiḥ ||

Translation

ବାୟୁ କହିଲେ—ଯେପରି ଏକାଗ୍ର ଧ୍ୟାନ ଦ୍ୱାରା ସେଇ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟକୁ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ କରାଯାଏ, ସେପରି ଏହି ଲୋକରେ ଅଶ୍ୱଯୁକ୍ତ ଶୀଘ୍ରଗାମୀ ରଥରେ ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ତ୍ୱରିତ ଗତିରେ ଅଗ୍ରସର ହୁଏ। ଏହିପରି ଜ୍ଞାନୀମାନଙ୍କର ଗତି—ନିୟମିତ ଓ ସୁନିୟୋଜିତ ବୁଦ୍ଧିଦ୍ୱାରା ଅଭିପ୍ରେତ ଶେଷକୁ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ କରି ଆଗେଇଯିବା।

Word by Word

• तम्: him/that (person)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• यथा: as/according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• ध्यानम्: meditation/contemplation
• ध्यानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• रथेन: by/with a chariot
• रथेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• इह: here/in this world
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• आशुगामिना: swift-going
• आशुगामिना: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशुगामिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• गच्छति: goes/proceeds
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अश्वप्रयुक्तेन: yoked/attached to horses
• अश्वप्रयुक्तेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्वप्रयुक्त
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• तथा: so/likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• बुद्धिमताम्: of the intelligent/wise
• बुद्धिमताम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धिमत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• गतिः: course/way/progress
• गतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वायुदेव (Vāyu-deva)
• रथ (chariot)
• अश्व (horses)
• ध्यान (meditation)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that wise progress is purposeful and disciplined: as meditation steadily reaches its object, so a well-yoked chariot swiftly reaches its destination. Intelligence, when properly directed, becomes a vehicle for attaining one’s rightful goal.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu-deva is speaking and uses an analogy: meditation is compared to a swift chariot drawn by horses. The point is to illustrate how the wise move toward their aim—through controlled, well-harnessed faculties and focused intent.