Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 486
Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga
Adhyātma-Upadeśa
वायोश्वापि गुण: स्पर्श: स्पर्शश्व॒ बहुधा स्मृतः । शब्द और स्पर्श--ये वायुके दो गुण जानने योग्य कहे जाते हैं। इनमें भी स्पर्श ही वायुका प्रधान गुण है। स्पर्श भी कई प्रकारका माना गया है
vāyoś cāpi guṇaḥ sparśaḥ, śabdaś ca bahudhā smṛtaḥ |
Ipinaliwanag ni Vāyu-deva na ang hangin ay nakikilala sa mga katangiang nadarama—lalo na ang haplos, at mayroon din itong tunog. Sa mga ito, ang haplos ang itinuturing na pangunahing katangiang nagtatakda sa hangin, at maging ang “haplos” ay nauunawaang may maraming anyo. Itinatampok din ng aral ang isang puntong moral at sikolohikal: kung paanong ang isang sangkap ay nakikilala sa natatanging katangian nito, gayon din ang tao ay nakikilala sa nangingibabaw na mga katangiang kanyang nililinang at ipinahahayag.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wind is characterized by specific qualities—touch and sound—with touch treated as primary; the broader lesson is that beings (and people) are recognized by their dominant qualities, so one should cultivate the qualities that define a virtuous life.
Vāyu-deva is speaking in a didactic passage, describing the elemental properties of wind and distinguishing its principal attribute (touch), preparing for further classification of how that attribute manifests in different ways.