Shloka 1

Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga

Adhyātma-Upadeśa

Devanagari script

ऑपन-माज बक। डे पजञ्चाशत्तमो<्ध्याय: सत्त्व और पुरुषकी भिन्नता

Transliteration

brahmovāca—hanta vaḥ saṃpravakṣyāmi yan māṃ pṛcchatha sattamāḥ | guruṇā śiṣyam āsādya yad uktaṃ tan nibodhata ||

Translation

பிரம்மா கூறினார்—முனிவர்களில் சிறந்தவர்களே! நீங்கள் என்னிடம் கேட்டதை இப்போது நான் விளக்குகிறேன். தகுதியான சீடனைப் பெற்றபோது ஆசான் அளிக்கும் உபதேசத்தை கவனமாகக் கேளுங்கள்.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मोवाच: Brahmā said
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + उवाच(वच्)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• हन्त: indeed / well then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हन्त

• वः: to you (all)
• वः: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Dative, Plural

• संप्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain fully
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्र + वच्
• Form: Future (लृट्), 1, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Accusative, Singular

• पृच्छथ: you ask
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: Present (लट्), 2, Plural, Parasmaipada

• सत्तमाः: O best ones
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Plural

• गुरुणा: by the teacher
• गुरुणा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• शिष्यम्: a disciple
• शिष्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आसाद्य: having obtained / having met
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + सद्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), Parasmaipada (usage)

• यत्: what(ever)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• उक्तम्: said / spoken
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• निबोधत: understand / listen attentively
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + बुध्
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2, Plural, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• sages (mahārṣis / sattamāḥ)
• guru (teacher)
• śiṣya (disciple)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames knowledge as a disciplined transmission: when a teacher finds a fit disciple, the instruction given is to be received with attentive understanding. It emphasizes receptivity, worthiness, and careful listening as ethical prerequisites for higher teaching.

What is happening in the narrative?

A group of eminent sages has questioned the speaker; Brahmā responds by announcing that he will now expound the requested topic and urges them to attend to the teaching, presented in the model of guru-to-disciple instruction.