Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 46
Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga
Adhyātma-Upadeśa
शुक्लं कृष्णं तथा रक्त नील॑ पीतारुणं तथा
śuklaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ tathā raktaṃ nīlaṃ pītāruṇaṃ tathā | vijñeyaṃ brāhmaṇair vṛddhair dharmajñaiḥ satyavādibhiḥ ||
ਵਾਯੂ-ਦੇਵ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—ਚਿੱਟਾ, ਕਾਲਾ ਅਤੇ ਲਾਲ; ਨੀਲਾ, ਪੀਲਾ ਅਤੇ ਅਰੁਣ—ਇਹ ਭੇਦ ਸੱਚ ਬੋਲਣ ਵਾਲੇ, ਧਰਮ-ਜਾਣੂ ਬੁਜ਼ੁਰਗ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਜਾਣਨ ਯੋਗ ਕਹੇ ਗਏ ਹਨ।
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
True understanding of subtle distinctions (here, the color-forms of a radiant/fiery principle) is entrusted to disciplined authorities—elders who are both dharma-knowing and committed to truth—linking knowledge with ethical qualification.
Vāyu-deva is speaking and enumerates a set of color categories (white, black, red, blue, yellow, tawny), stating that such distinctions are to be recognized and taught by venerable, truthful Brāhmaṇas who know dharma.