Shloka 21

Brahma-vidyā: Satya–Tapas and the Enumeration of Tattvas

Arjuna–Vāsudeva framed dialogue

Devanagari script

महाभूतविशेषश्च विशेषप्रतिशाखवान्‌ । सदापर्ण: सदापुष्प: सदा शुभफलोदय:

Transliteration

mahābhūtaviśeṣaś ca viśeṣapratiśākhavān | sadāparṇaḥ sadāpuṣpaḥ sadā śubhaphalodayaḥ ||

Translation

وایو دیو نے کہا—یہ عظیم عناصر کی ایک عجیب و غریب تجلّی ہے، اپنی منفرد شاخوں کے باعث ممتاز۔ یہ ہمیشہ برگ و بار سے آراستہ، ہمیشہ شگفتہ، اور مسلسل مبارک پھل پیدا کرنے والا ہے۔

Word by Word

महाभूतविशेषःa special (manifestation) of the great elements

चand

विशेषप्रतिशाखवान्having distinct branches

सदापर्णःever-leafed (having leaves always)

सदापुष्पःever-flowering

सदाalways

शुभफलोदयःthe arising/production of auspicious fruits

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

व

वायुदेव (Vāyu-deva)

म

महाभूत (the great elements)

tree/plant with perpetual leaves, flowers, and fruits (implied object)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises a phenomenon (implicitly a sacred tree or divine growth) as an extraordinary expression of the cosmic elements, emphasizing perpetual vitality and the steady production of auspicious ‘fruits’—a moral image for dharmic action that reliably yields beneficent outcomes.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu-deva describes a marvel characterized by unique branching and unceasing leaves, flowers, and auspicious fruits, highlighting its divine or extraordinary nature within the episode being narrated in this chapter.