Shloka 26
Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga
Adhyātma-Upadeśa
एतत् पदमनुद्धिग्नं वरिष्ठ धर्मलक्षणम् । उस विषयको यहाँ पूर्णतया सुनकर अच्छी प्रकार धारण करो। सब प्राणियोंकी अहिंसा ही सर्वोत्तम कर्तव्य है--ऐसा माना गया है। यह साधन उद्देगरहित
etad padam anuddhignaṁ variṣṭha-dharma-lakṣaṇam | yathārṇavaṁ mahāghoram aplavaḥ sampragāhate | bāhubhyām eva sammohād vardha vāñchaty asaṁśayam ||
वायुरुवाच—एतत् पदमनुद्धिग्नं वरिष्ठं धर्मलक्षणम्। एतद् विषयं सम्यक् श्रुत्वा हृदि धारयत। सर्वप्राणिभ्यः अहिंसैव परमो धर्म इति निश्चयः। यथार्णवं महाघोरमप्लवः सम्प्रगाहते, बाहुभ्यामेव सम्मोहाद् वर्धं वाञ्छत्यसंशयम्; एवं ज्ञानप्लवमाश्रित्य विना न कश्चिद् भवसागरं तरितुमर्हति।
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the highest, fear-free path of dharma requires the support of true knowledge; attempting to cross saṁsāra relying only on one’s own limited effort is like entering a terrifying ocean without a boat—an act that leads to ruin.
Vāyudeva is instructing the listener about the nature of supreme dharma and illustrates his point with a vivid simile: a deluded man tries to cross a dreadful sea without a boat, trusting only his arms—highlighting the necessity of a proper means (knowledge) to attain liberation.