Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 26
Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga
Adhyātma-Upadeśa
एतत् पदमनुद्धिग्नं वरिष्ठ धर्मलक्षणम् । उस विषयको यहाँ पूर्णतया सुनकर अच्छी प्रकार धारण करो। सब प्राणियोंकी अहिंसा ही सर्वोत्तम कर्तव्य है--ऐसा माना गया है। यह साधन उद्देगरहित
etad padam anuddhignaṁ variṣṭha-dharma-lakṣaṇam | yathārṇavaṁ mahāghoram aplavaḥ sampragāhate | bāhubhyām eva sammohād vardha vāñchaty asaṁśayam ||
Wika ni Vāyu: “Ito ang landas na hindi nagpapayanig (walang takot), ang pinakadakilang tanda ng dharma. Kung paanong ang isang taong nalilinlang ay papasok sa malawak at kakila-kilabot na dagat nang walang bangka, at magtitiwalang makakatawid sa paglangoy gamit lamang ang dalawang bisig—walang alinlangan, siya’y humihingi ng kapahamakan. Gayon din, kung walang sandigan ng tunay na kaalaman, hindi matatawid ng tao ang dagat ng pag-iral sa sanlibutan.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the highest, fear-free path of dharma requires the support of true knowledge; attempting to cross saṁsāra relying only on one’s own limited effort is like entering a terrifying ocean without a boat—an act that leads to ruin.
Vāyudeva is instructing the listener about the nature of supreme dharma and illustrates his point with a vivid simile: a deluded man tries to cross a dreadful sea without a boat, trusting only his arms—highlighting the necessity of a proper means (knowledge) to attain liberation.