Shloka 27

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

Adhyātma-Upadeśa

Devanagari script

नावा चापि यथा प्राज्ञो विभागज्ञः स्वरित्रया । अश्रान्त: सलिले गच्छेच्छीघ्रं संतरते हृदम्‌

Transliteration

nāvā cāpi yathā prājño vibhāgajñaḥ svaritrayā | aśrāntaḥ salile gacchec chīghraṃ saṃtarate hṛdam ||

Translation

ବାୟୁ କହିଲେ—ଯେପରି ଜଳମାର୍ଗର ବିଭାଗ ଜାଣିଥିବା ପ୍ରାଜ୍ଞ ପୁରୁଷ ସୁନ୍ଦର ଚେପା ଥିବା ନୌକାରେ ଜଳ ଉପରେ ଅକ୍ଳାନ୍ତ ଯାତ୍ରା କରି ଶୀଘ୍ର ସେହି ବିସ୍ତାରକୁ ପାର କରେ, ସେପରି ବିବେକୀ ଜନ ସଂସାର-ସାଗରକୁ ଅତିକ୍ରମ କରେ; ଏବଂ ପରତଟ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ ହେଲେ ଯେ ସାଧନ ଦ୍ୱାରା ପାର ହେଲା, ସେହି ସାଧନ ପ୍ରତି ମମତା ଛାଡ଼ି ଦିଏ।

Word by Word

• नावा: by a boat
• नावा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नौ
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

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

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• यथा: just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• प्राज्ञः: a wise man
• प्राज्ञः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विभागज्ञः: knower of divisions/ways (of the water-route)
• विभागज्ञः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभागज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्वरित्रया: with an oar/paddle
• स्वरित्रया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वरित्र
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• अश्रान्तः: unwearied
• अश्रान्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्रान्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सलिले: in the water
• सलिले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• गच्छेत्: would go/proceed
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र

• संतरते: crosses over
• Type: Verb
• Root: संतॄ
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• हृदम्: a lake/expanse of water
• हृदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ह्रद
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva
• boat (nāva)
• oar/steering implement (svaritra)
• water/expanse of water (salila, hṛda)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches non-attachment to instruments and supports once their purpose is fulfilled: as a traveler abandons possessiveness toward the boat after crossing, a wise person relinquishes clinging to prior aids and accomplishments after transcending worldly bondage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is instructing through an analogy: a skilled, intelligent traveler crosses a vast water expanse swiftly using a well-oared boat; likewise, one crosses the ‘ocean’ of worldly life by appropriate means and then lets go of attachment to those means upon reaching the goal.