Shloka 24
Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga
Adhyātma-Upadeśa
यावद् रथपथस्तावदू रथेन स तु गच्छति । क्षीणे रथपदे विद्वान् रथमुत्सूज्य गच्छति
yāvad rathapathas tāvadū rathena sa tu gacchati | kṣīṇe rathapade vidvān ratham utsṛjya gacchati |
ବାୟୁ କହିଲେ—ଯେତେଦୂର ରଥପଥ ଅଛି ସେତେଦୂର ସେ ରଥରେ ଯାଏ। ରଥପଦ ଶେଷ ହେଲେ ଜ୍ଞାନୀ ରଥକୁ ଛାଡ଼ି ଆଗେଇଯାଏ। ଏହିପରି ମୂର୍ଖ ଏକମାତ୍ର ଉପାୟକୁ ଧରି ରହି ଭୂମି-ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନରେ କଷ୍ଟ ପାଏ; କିନ୍ତୁ ଧୀର ପୁରୁଷ ମାର୍ଗର ମର୍ଯ୍ୟାଦା ଜାଣି ଯଥାଯୋଗ୍ୟ ଉପାୟ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ କରେ।
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Use appropriate means only as long as they are effective and fitting; when circumstances change, the wise relinquish attachment to a tool or method and proceed by a better-suited way. Clinging rigidly to one approach leads to needless suffering.
Vāyu illustrates a moral point through a travel metaphor: a chariot is useful on a proper road, but once the track ends, continuing with it is impractical. The example contrasts the foolish person’s stubbornness with the wise person’s discernment and flexibility.