Shloka 23
Brāhmaṇa-māhātmya: Tārkṣya’s instruction on tapas, satya, and svadharma
Chapter 182
बुद्धेरुत्तरकाला च वेदना दृश्यते बुध: । एष वै राजशार्दूल विधि: क्षेत्रज्ञभावन:,बुद्धिकी क्रियाके उत्तरकालमें भी विद्वान् पुरुषोंको एक अनुभूति दिखायी देती है। नृपश्रेष्ठ! यही क्षेत्रज्ष आत्माको प्रकाशित करनेवाली विधि है
buddher uttarākālā ca vedanā dṛśyate budhaḥ | eṣa vai rājaśārdūla vidhiḥ kṣetrajñabhāvanaḥ ||
“Mesmo depois de passada a fase ulterior do intelecto (buddhi), os sábios ainda percebem uma consciência sutil. Ó tigre entre os reis, este é, de fato, o método pelo qual o Conhecedor do Campo (kṣetrajña), o Si interior, é trazido à manifestação—apontando para além da mera atividade mental, rumo à realização direta do ātman.”
सर्प उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that true awareness is not limited to the operations of बुद्धि (intellect). Even when intellectual activity subsides, the wise recognize a subtler, continuing अनुभूति (vedanā). This points to the kṣetrajña—the inner Self—as distinct from the mind, and recommends a discipline (vidhi) aimed at making that Self evident.
A serpent (सर्प) addresses a king respectfully as ‘rājaśārdūla’ and instructs him in a contemplative insight: beyond mental processes there is a perceivable inner awareness. The serpent frames this as a method for bringing the kṣetrajña (Self) to manifestation, shifting the dialogue from external events to inner realization.