Vijnanasarathir Yastu - The Disciplined Charioteer
विज्ञानसारथिर्यस्तु मनः प्रग्रहवान्नरः। सोऽध्वनः पारमाप्नोति तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम्॥
vijñānasārathir yastu manaḥ pragrahavān naraḥ । so'dhvanaḥ pāram āpnoti tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam ॥
PM's MessageThe success of 11 years of Digital India has given Bharat a new identity across the world. It shows the resolve of the people of the country to take the nation to new heights by embracing innovation and technology.
Meaning of Vijñānasārathir Yastu Manaḥ Pragrahavān
That person whose discerning intellect acts as a vigilant scientific charioteer, and whose mind is disciplined and controlled, navigates beyond the complexities of life's path to reach the ultimate goal.
Word by word
- विज्ञानसारथिःvijñānasārathiḥ
having discernment as charioteer
वि + √ज्ञा + सारथि
- यः तुyas tu
who indeed
यद्
- मनःप्रग्रहवान्manaḥpragrahavān
holding the mind as reins
मनस् + प्र + √ग्रह्
- नरःnaraḥ
the person
नर
- सः अध्वनःso'dhvanaḥ
he, of the road
अध्वन्
- पारम् आप्नोतिpāram āpnoti
reaches the far shore
पार + √आप्
- तत् विष्णोःtad viṣṇoḥ
that of Vishnu
विष्णु
- परमम् पदम्paramaṁ padam
supreme abode
परम + पद
Commentary
This mantra is part of the Katha Upanishad's famous chariot allegory. In that image, the body is the chariot, the self is the lord of the chariot, the intellect is the charioteer, the mind is the reins, and the senses are the horses. Here vijñāna means discriminating knowledge or awakened understanding: the charioteer must know the road, judge the horses, and hold the reins steadily. Manaḥ pragrahavān describes a person whose mind is controlled rather than scattered, so intelligence and inner discipline work together. The goal named as tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam is the supreme state, the far shore of the path. In its original setting, the mantra points toward self-realization and liberation, not merely worldly achievement. PM Modi's post gives it a modern civic application: innovation and technology can carry a nation forward only when guided by clear understanding, disciplined resolve, and a higher purpose.
Original Post
More from Katha Upanishad
View source pageउत्तिष्ठत जाग्रत प्राप्य वरान्निबोधत। क्षुरस्य धारा निशिता दुरत्यया दुर्गं पथस्तत्कवयो वदन्ति॥
uttiṣṭhata jāgrata prāpya varān nibodhata । kṣurasya dhārā niśitā duratyayā durgaṁ pathas tat kavayo vadanti ॥
The Katha Upanishad calls seekers to arise, awaken, approach wise teachers, and walk the subtle, demanding path toward realization.
More subhashitams on Knowledge
View topic pageनित्यं परिचरेच्चैव तद्वै सुकृतमुत्तमम्। कीर्तिं पुण्यं यशो लोकान् प्राप्स्यसे राजसत्तम॥
nityaṃ paricareccaiva tadvai sukṛtamuttamam । kīrtiṃ puṇyaṃ yaśo lokān prāpsyase rājasattama ॥
Daily service is praised as an excellent deed that brings merit, renown and higher realms.
ज्ञानवांश्च तथा वाग्मी कर्मस्वपि च निष्ठितः। एवं युक्तोऽपि न श्रेयान् यदि शीलविवर्जितः॥
jñānavāṃśca tathā vāgmī karmasvapi ca niṣṭhitaḥ । evaṃ yukto'pi na śreyān yadi śīlavivarjitaḥ ॥
Knowledge, eloquence, and skill in work do not make a person worthy of esteem if good character is absent.
स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः। स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु॥
sve sve karmaṇyabhirataḥ saṁsiddhiṁ labhate naraḥ । svakarmanirataḥ siddhiṁ yathā vindati tacchṛṇu ॥
The Bhagavad Gita teaches that devotion to one's own work is a path to perfection.