Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 17
Mind as Charioteer; Kṣetrajña, Tapas, and Dhyāna-Yoga
Adhyātma-Upadeśa
सहस्नेणापि दुर्मेधा न बुद्धिमधिगच्छति । चतुर्थेनाप्यथांशेन बुद्धिमान् सुखमेधते
sahasreṇāpi durmedhā na buddhim adhigacchati | caturthenāpy athāṁśena buddhimān sukham edhate ||
风神（Vāyu）说道：愚钝之人纵使千般努力，也难得真实的辨慧；而有智之士，即便只用其四分之一的功夫，亦能得悟，由此安乐昌盛。此偈强调：内在的资质与心识的澄明，胜过单纯的劳作之多寡。
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that wisdom is not produced merely by multiplying external efforts; without sound intellect and receptivity, even great exertion may fail. Conversely, a discerning person needs comparatively little effort to grasp truth and thereby attain well-being.
Vāyudeva is speaking as a moral instructor, offering a general maxim about discernment and effort. The statement functions as ethical counsel within the Ashvamedhika Parva’s reflective, didactic passages.