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Shloka 10

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

Adhyātma-Upadeśa

नित्यं द्वन्द्धसमायुक्तं सत्त्वमाहुर्मनीषिण: । निर्दचन्दो निष्कलो नित्य: क्षेत्रज्ञो निर्गुणात्मक:,मनीषी पुरुष सत्त्वको द्वन्धयुक्त कहते हैं और क्षेत्रज्ञ निर्दन्द्ध, निष्कल, नित्य और निर्मुणस्वरूप है

nityaṁ dvandva-samāyuktaṁ sattvam āhur manīṣiṇaḥ | nirdvandvo niṣkalo nityaḥ kṣetrajño nirguṇātmakaḥ ||

మనీషులు సత్త్వము నిత్యం ద్వంద్వాలతో కూడి ఉంటుందని అంటారు; కాని క్షేత్రజ్ఞుడు నిర్ద్వంద్వుడు, నిష్కలుడు, నిత్యుడు, నిర్గుణస్వరూపుడు.

नित्यम्always
नित्यम्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनित्य
FormAvyaya (adverb)
द्वन्द्व-समायुक्तम्associated with pairs/opposites (dvandvas)
द्वन्द्व-समायुक्तम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootद्वन्द्व-समायुक्त
FormNeuter, accusative, singular
सत्त्वम्the being / entity (sattva)
सत्त्वम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसत्त्व
FormNeuter, accusative, singular
आहुःthey say / call
आहुः:
TypeVerb
Rootअह्
FormPresent, 3rd person, plural (parasmaipada)
मनीषिणःthe wise (sages)
मनीषिणः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमनीषिन्
FormMasculine, nominative, plural
निर्द्वन्द्वःfree from opposites
निर्द्वन्द्वः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनिर्द्वन्द्व
FormMasculine, nominative, singular
निष्कलःpartless /ा/without parts
निष्कलः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनिष्कल
FormMasculine, nominative, singular
नित्यःeternal
नित्यः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनित्य
FormMasculine, nominative, singular
क्षेत्रज्ञःknower of the field (self)
क्षेत्रज्ञः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootक्षेत्रज्ञ
FormMasculine, nominative, singular
निर्गुण-आत्मकःof the nature of being without qualities
निर्गुण-आत्मकः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनिर्गुण-आत्मक
FormMasculine, nominative, singular

वायुदेव उवाच

वायुदेव (Vāyu-deva)
मनीषिणः (the sages/wise)
क्षेत्रज्ञ (kṣetrajña)

Educational Q&A

The verse distinguishes between the mind/embodied disposition that is continually caught in dualities (dvandvas) and the kṣetrajña—the inner witness—which is untouched by them, partless, eternal, and beyond the guṇas. Ethical steadiness comes from identifying with the witness rather than the fluctuating opposites.

Vāyu-deva is instructing the listener in a philosophical-ethical reflection: ordinary experience is marked by constant oscillation between opposites, but the true Self (kṣetrajña) remains unaffected. The teaching guides the hearer toward detachment and discernment.