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 |
वायुरुवाच—यावद् रथपथस्तावद् रथेनैव स गच्छति। क्षीणे रथपदे विद्वान् रथमुत्सृज्य गच्छति। एवं मूढोऽनुपायज्ञो भूभेदे क्लिश्यते; धीरस्तु मार्गमर्यादां ज्ञात्वा यथायोग्यं विधिं परिवर्तयति।
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.