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 ||
风神(Vāyu)说道:“凭由推知(anumāna),我们了知至上之人(Puruṣa)安住于萨埵(sattva)之中,以此清净光明之德为依止。噢,诸二次生者中最殊胜者,除此之外别无他途可达彼至上之人;若不领会此理,便不可能成就。”
वायुदेव उवाच
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.