Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 6

Adhyāya 48: Brahmopadeśa on Prāṇāyāma, Sāttvika Vṛtti, and the Sattva–Kṣetrajña Question

अनुमानाद्‌ विजानीम: पुरुष सत्त्वसंश्रयम्‌ । न शक्‍्यमन्यथा गन्तुं पुरुष द्विजसत्तमा:

anumānād vijānīmaḥ puruṣa sattvasaṃśrayam | na śakyam anyathā gantuṃ puruṣa dvijasattamāḥ ||

Vāyu nói: “Nhờ suy luận, chúng ta biết rằng Đấng Tối Thượng (Puruṣa) an trụ, nương nơi sattva—nguyên lý thanh tịnh và quang minh. Hỡi bậc tối thắng trong hàng lưỡng sinh, không có con đường nào khác để đạt đến Đấng Tối Thượng ấy; nếu không thấu hiểu chân lý này, thì không thể thành tựu.”

anumānātfrom inference
anumānāt:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootanumāna
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
vijānīmaḥwe know/understand
vijānīmaḥ:
Karta
TypeVerb
Root√jñā (vi-)
FormPresent, First, Plural, Parasmaipada
puruṣaO man / O Puruṣa
puruṣa:
TypeNoun
Rootpuruṣa
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
sattva-saṃśrayamhaving refuge in sattva / resting on sattva
sattva-saṃśrayam:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootsattva-saṃśraya
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
nanot
na:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna
śakyampossible
śakyam:
TypeAdjective
Root√śak
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
anyathāotherwise
anyathā:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootanyathā
gantumto go / to attain
gantum:
TypeVerb
Root√gam
FormTumun (infinitive)
puruṣaO Puruṣa
puruṣa:
TypeNoun
Rootpuruṣa
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
dvija-sattamaO best of the twice-born
dvija-sattama:
TypeNoun
Rootdvija-sattama
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

वायुदेव उवाच

V
Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
P
Puruṣa (Supreme Person/Paramātman)
D
Dvija (twice-born; Brahmin addressees)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches that inferential reasoning (anumāna) can establish the presence of the Supreme Person as abiding in sattva (purity/clarity). It emphasizes that realization and attainment of the Supreme is not possible without understanding this principle—purifying and clarifying the inner being is integral to spiritual reach.

Vāyudeva addresses revered Brahmins (dvija-sattamas), presenting a doctrinal point: the Supreme Person’s relation to sattva and the necessity of correct understanding for attaining the highest goal. The speech functions as instruction within the Ashvamedhika Parva’s broader post-war spiritual and ethical discourse.