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Shloka 20

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

Adhyātma-Upadeśa

तथा कर्मसु विज्ञेयं फलं भवति वा न वा । पुरुषस्यात्मनि:श्रेय: शुभाशुभनिदर्शनम्‌

tathā karmasu vijñeyaṃ phalaṃ bhavati vā na vā | puruṣasyātmaniḥśreyaḥ śubhāśubhanidarśanam |

ฉันนั้นในกิจการแห่งกรรม พึงรู้ว่า “ผล” อาจเกิดขึ้นหรือไม่เกิดขึ้นก็ได้; ส่วนความเกษมอันยิ่งของบุรุษที่ปรากฏในตนเองนั้น เป็นเครื่องชี้รอยสั่งสมอันเป็นมงคลและอวมงคลจากชาติปางก่อน

तथाthus, in the same way
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
कर्मसुin actions
कर्मसु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन्
FormNeuter, Locative, Plural
विज्ञेयम्is to be known/understood
विज्ञेयम्:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-ज्ञा
Formतव्यत् (gerundive), Neuter, Nominative, Singular, passive necessity
फलम्the result, fruit
फलम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootफल
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
भवतिarises/is
भवति:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormPresent (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
वाor
वा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा
पुरुषस्यof a person
पुरुषस्य:
TypeNoun
Rootपुरुष
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
आत्मनि:श्रेयःone's own highest good (spiritual welfare)
आत्मनि:श्रेयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन् + निःश्रेयस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
शुभाशुभनिदर्शनम्an indicator/sign of good and bad (impressions)
शुभाशुभनिदर्शनम्:
TypeNoun
Rootशुभ + अशुभ + निदर्शन
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular

वायुदेव उवाच

V
Vāyudeva (Wind-god)

Educational Q&A

Results in action are not mechanically guaranteed; fruition may occur or may not. One’s inner progress toward niḥśreyas (highest good) reveals the force of prior auspicious and inauspicious saṃskāras, explaining why yogic attainment can be difficult or delayed for some.

Vāyudeva is instructing the listener on the moral psychology of karma and spiritual practice: he frames success in yogic discipline as conditioned by past-life impressions, and urges discernment that outcomes are contingent rather than assured.