Shloka 8
Adhyāya 26 — Ekākṣara-Brahman (“Om”) and the Hṛdayastha Guru
Inner Teacher
तेषां प्रोवाच भगवान् श्रेय: समनुपृच्छताम् । ओमित्येकाक्षरं ब्रद्य ते श्रुत्वा प्राद्रवन् दिश:
teṣāṃ provāca bhagavān śreyaḥ samanupṛcchatām | om ity ekākṣaraṃ brahma dadau te śrutvā prādravan diśaḥ ||
当那些求问至善者发问时，世尊便为他们宣说：赐下“一字梵”（一音之梵）——“唵（Om）”。闻此神圣的普罗那瓦之声，众人各奔其方，仿佛教诲已毕，遂各循其应行之路而去。
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The highest welfare (śreyaḥ) is indicated through the praṇava ‘Oṃ’, presented as the one-syllabled Brahman—an Upaniṣadic pointer to the Absolute and a concise object of contemplation.
A group of inquirers asks about what is truly beneficial; the divine speaker answers by imparting ‘Oṃ’. Upon hearing it, the listeners disperse to their respective directions, suggesting the instruction is complete and each proceeds on his own path of practice.