Shloka 12

Abhaya-Itihāsa: Karma, Indriyas, and the Non-sensory Brahman

Brāhmaṇī–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

प्राणेन न तदाप्रेयं नास्वाद्यं चैव जिह्नया । स्पर्शनेन तदस्पृश्यं मनसा त्ववगम्यते

Transliteration

prāṇena na tad āpreyaṁ nāsvādyaṁ caiva jihnayā | sparśanena tad aspṛśyaṁ manasā tv avagamyate ||

Translation

风神伐由曰：彼不坏之梵，非气息所能嗅得，亦非舌根所能尝得；非触觉所能触及，唯可由心而证知。

Word by Word

• प्राणेन: by the breath / by the vital sense
• प्राणेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• तत्: that (Brahman)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• आप्रेयम्: fit to be smelled
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आप्रेय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• आस्वाद्यम्: fit to be tasted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आस्वाद्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• जिह्वया: by the tongue
• जिह्वया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• स्पर्शनेन: by touch / by the tactile sense
• स्पर्शनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्शन
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• तत्: that (Brahman)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• अस्पृश्यम्: untouchable / not fit to be touched
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्पृश्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• मनसा: by the mind
• मनसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• तु: but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• अवगम्यते: is understood / is apprehended
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव√गम्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Passive (Karmani)

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyudeva
• Brahman

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Brahman is not an object of the senses—neither smelled, tasted, nor touched—so it must be known through inner awareness and disciplined mind, not through sensory pursuit.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva instructs the listener by negating sensory access to the Imperishable Brahman, steering the discussion toward contemplative knowledge and the inward path of realization.