Shloka 21

Brahma-vidyā: Satya–Tapas and the Enumeration of Tattvas

Arjuna–Vāsudeva framed dialogue

Devanagari script

महाभूतविशेषश्च विशेषप्रतिशाखवान्‌ । सदापर्ण: सदापुष्प: सदा शुभफलोदय:

Transliteration

mahābhūtaviśeṣaś ca viśeṣapratiśākhavān | sadāparṇaḥ sadāpuṣpaḥ sadā śubhaphalodayaḥ ||

Translation

வாயுதேவன் கூறினான்—இது மகாபூதங்களின் ஒரு அதிசயமான விசேஷ வெளிப்பாடு; தனித்துவமான கிளைபிரிவுகளால் வேறுபட்டது. எப்போதும் இலைகளுடனும் எப்போதும் மலர்ந்தும் இருந்து, இடையறாது மங்களகரமான கனிகளை அளிக்கிறது.

Word by Word

महाभूतविशेषःa special (manifestation) of the great elements

चand

विशेषप्रतिशाखवान्having distinct branches

सदापर्णःever-leafed (having leaves always)

सदापुष्पःever-flowering

सदाalways

शुभफलोदयःthe arising/production of auspicious fruits

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

व

वायुदेव (Vāyu-deva)

म

महाभूत (the great elements)

tree/plant with perpetual leaves, flowers, and fruits (implied object)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises a phenomenon (implicitly a sacred tree or divine growth) as an extraordinary expression of the cosmic elements, emphasizing perpetual vitality and the steady production of auspicious ‘fruits’—a moral image for dharmic action that reliably yields beneficent outcomes.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu-deva describes a marvel characterized by unique branching and unceasing leaves, flowers, and auspicious fruits, highlighting its divine or extraordinary nature within the episode being narrated in this chapter.