Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 22
Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga
Adhyātma-Upadeśa
तमेव च यथाध्यानं रथेनेहाशुगामिना । गच्छत्यश्वप्रयुक्तेन तथा बुद्धिमतां गति:
tam eva ca yathādhyānaṁ rathenehāśugāminā | gacchaty aśvaprayuktena tathā buddhimatāṁ gatiḥ ||
Wika ni Vāyu: “Kung paanong naaabot ng tao ang mismong layuning iyon sa pamamagitan ng masidhing pagninilay, gayon din sa mundong ito ay mabilis na nakasusulong sa karwaheng hinihila ng mga kabayo. Sa gayong paraan, ang landas ng marurunong ay itinutuwid ang disiplinado at wastong ginagabayang talino tungo sa itinakdang wakas.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that wise progress is purposeful and disciplined: as meditation steadily reaches its object, so a well-yoked chariot swiftly reaches its destination. Intelligence, when properly directed, becomes a vehicle for attaining one’s rightful goal.
Vāyu-deva is speaking and uses an analogy: meditation is compared to a swift chariot drawn by horses. The point is to illustrate how the wise move toward their aim—through controlled, well-harnessed faculties and focused intent.