Verse 11
यदक्षरं वेदविदो वदन्ति विशन्ति यद्यतयो वीतरागाः | यदिच्छन्तो ब्रह्मचर्यं चरन्ति तत्ते पदं सङ्ग्रहेण प्रवक्ष्ये || ११ ||
Transliteration
yad akṣaraṁ veda-vido vadanti viśanti yad yatayo vīta-rāgāḥ yad icchanto brahmacaryaṁ caranti tat te padaṁ saṅgraheṇa pravakṣye
Synonyms
yat—that which; akṣaram—the imperishable; veda-vidaḥ—knowers of the Vedas; vadanti—declare; viśanti—enter; yat—which; yatayaḥ—great sages; vīta-rāgāḥ—free from passion; yat—which; icchantaḥ—desiring; brahmacaryam—celibacy/spiritual discipline; caranti—practice; tat—that; te—to you; padam—state; saṅgraheṇa—in brief; pravakṣye—I will explain.
Translation
“That which the knowers of the Vedas declare as the Imperishable, into which the great ascetics, freed from passion, enter, and for the sake of which they practise celibacy—that goal I will explain to you briefly.”
Multi-Tradition Commentary
The supreme state (padam) is described here through the testimonial of three traditions: Vedic knowledge (veda-vido), monastic renunciation (yatayaḥ), and the discipline of brahmacharya. All three converge on the same destination—the akṣara Brahman. This convergence validates the universality of the goal.
Practical Application (Modern Life)
Brahmacharya in its deepest sense means 'moving in Brahman'—orienting all of one's energy toward the awareness of the Absolute. This does not require physical celibacy for all people, but it does require a conservation of vital energy and a redirection of passion toward inner awakening.