Shloka 10

अध्याय १६ — शङ्कर-उमा-वरदानम् तथा तण्डि-स्तुतिः (Śaṅkara–Umā Boon-Granting and Taṇḍi’s Hymn)

Devanagari script

दुर्विज्ञेगमसंख्येयं दुष्प्रपमकृतात्मभि: । योनिं विश्वस्थ जगतस्तमस: परत: परम्‌

Transliteration

durvijñeyam asaṅkhyeyaṁ duṣprāpam akṛtātmabhiḥ | yoniṁ viśvasya jagatas tamasaḥ parataḥ param ||

Translation

दुर्विज्ञेयमसंख्येयं दुष्प्राप्यमकृतात्मभिः । योनिं विश्वस्य जगतस्तमसः परतः परम् ।

Word by Word

• {'durvijñeyam': 'difficult to know or comprehend', 'asaṅkhyeyam': 'innumerable

• immeasurable', 'duṣprāpam': 'hard to attain

• not easily reached', 'akṛtātmabhiḥ': 'by those who are undisciplined

• who have not refined/purified the inner self', 'yoniṁ': 'womb

• origin-cause', 'viśvasya': 'of the universe

• of all that exists', 'jagataḥ': 'of the world

• of the moving creation', 'tamasaḥ': 'from darkness

• from ignorance (tamas)', 'parataḥ param': 'higher than the highest

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
• The Supreme principle/Īśvara (implied)
• Universe (viśva/jagat)
• Tamas (ignorance/darkness)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True realization of the Supreme is not achieved by mere intellect; it requires inner purification and self-mastery. The verse stresses transcendence (beyond tamas/ignorance) and the need for disciplined character to approach ultimate truth.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva is speaking, describing the nature of the Supreme as immeasurable and difficult to know, identifying Him as the origin of the universe and as transcending the darkness of ignorance—framing a teaching on spiritual attainment through inner discipline.