Shloka 21

Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga

Adhyātma-Upadeśa

Devanagari script

यथा च दीर्घमध्वानं पद्भ्यामेव प्रपद्यते । अदृष्टपूर्व सहसा तत्त्वदर्शनवर्जित:

Transliteration

yathā ca dīrgham adhvānaṃ padbhyām eva prapadyate | adṛṣṭapūrvaḥ sahasā tattvadarśanavarjitaḥ ||

Translation

Như người chưa từng thấy đường đi, bỗng nhiên lên một hành trình dài chỉ cậy đôi chân mình, rốt cuộc không đến được nơi mong muốn; cũng vậy, kẻ vô minh không có kiến giải về chân lý thì không thể đạt đến mục tiêu chân thật.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• दीर्घम्: long
• दीर्घम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अध्वानम्: journey, road
• अध्वानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पद्भ्याम्: with (his) two feet; on foot
• पद्भ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Dual

• एव: indeed, only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• प्रपद्यते: sets out, undertakes, proceeds
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + पद्
• Form: Lat, Present, Atmanepada, Third, Singular

• अदृष्टपूर्वः: one who has not seen before; inexperienced
• अदृष्टपूर्वः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अदृष्टपूर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सहसा: suddenly, rashly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा

• तत्त्वदर्शनवर्जितः: devoid of true insight/knowledge
• तत्त्वदर्शनवर्जितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्त्वदर्शनवर्जित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva (Wind-god)
• path/journey (adhvan)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Without tattva-darśana (true insight into reality), effort alone is misdirected; like an unfamiliar traveler rushing onto a long road, the ignorant person cannot reach the real goal.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva speaks in the form of an analogy, using the image of an unacquainted traveler to illustrate the spiritual and ethical danger of acting without true knowledge.