परेहि विग्रमस्तृतमिन्द्रं पृच्छा विपश्चितम् ।
यस्ते सखिभ्य आ वरम् ॥ ४ ॥

Parehi vigram astrutam indram prichcha vipashchitam |
Yas te sakhibhya a varam || 4 ||

Meaning

परेहि (Parehi) – Depart, withdraw, move away. Here, Parehi signifies turning away from worldly attachments, sense pleasures, and selfish thoughts. It teaches that the mind must be withdrawn from external attractions and directed toward the higher spiritual goal. To attain true wisdom, one must first renounce attachment.

विग्रम् (Vigram) – Mighty, courageous, possessing inner strength and steadfastness. This does not refer to physical strength but to the strength of the mind. It represents the person who has conquered desire, anger, and greed. The true hero is not one who conquers others, but one who has conquered himself.

अस्तृतम् (Astrutam) – Unwounded, untouched, uncorrupted, unaffected by sin. It symbolizes a pure state of mind that remains untouched by desires, anger, and negative thoughts. Only a mind established in purity is worthy of receiving true knowledge.

इन्द्रम् (Indram) – Indra, the Supreme Divine Power, the Supreme Self. In this mantra, Indram represents the Supreme Reality, Divine Wisdom, or the highest Truth. The knowledge that is truly worth seeking is knowledge that leads one toward the realization of the Supreme.

पृच्छा (Prichcha) – Ask, inquire, seek understanding. This word emphasizes the importance of questioning. One should approach the Guru with humility and sincere inquiry to discover the Truth. Wisdom begins with earnest questioning.

विपश्चितम् (Vipashchitam) – The wise one, the enlightened person, one endowed with profound insight. It refers to the sage who has deeply understood the world, nature, and the greatness of the Divine. To approach such a wise teacher is to approach wisdom itself.

यः (Yah) – He who, that person. This points to the enlightened teacher who imparts spiritual wisdom. Knowledge is transmitted from one enlightened soul to another sincere seeker.

ते (Te) – For you, unto you. This indicates that the teaching is addressed personally to the individual seeker. The spiritual journey ultimately requires personal effort and sincere aspiration.

सखिभ्यः (Sakhibhyah) – To friends, companions, fellow seekers. This indicates that the spiritual quest is not limited to one individual but is beneficial to the entire community of seekers. True wisdom is meant to be shared.

आ (A) – Toward, unto, here, bringing near. It signifies the movement of wisdom from the Guru to the disciple. Spiritual knowledge flows from the enlightened teacher to the worthy seeker.

वरम् (Varam) – The highest gift, the greatest blessing, the most excellent treasure. This does not refer to material wealth but to spiritual wisdom, realization of Truth, and the highest understanding of life. True wealth is knowledge.

Explanation

The Vedic mantras are sublime spiritual teachings that guide human beings from the external world to the inner world, and from ignorance to wisdom. This mantra profoundly teaches that one must withdraw from worldly desires and sensory pleasures, approach a wise and spiritually accomplished teacher with purity and inner strength, and receive the highest knowledge. It is not merely an instruction to acquire intellectual learning; rather, it is a divine guidance that redirects human life toward its ultimate purpose and spiritual fulfillment.

The opening word of the mantra, परेहि (Parehi), signifies withdrawing from worldly attachments, sensual enjoyments, and selfish desires. As long as a person remains immersed in external pleasures, true wisdom cannot arise. The word विग्रम् (Vigram) symbolizes inner courage and spiritual strength—the power to conquer desire, anger, and greed. True heroism does not lie in physical power or the conquest of others, but in mastering one’s own mind. Likewise, अस्तृतम् (Astrutam) denotes a mind that remains untouched by desires, impurities, and negative tendencies. Such a pure and undisturbed mind alone is fit to receive the light of spiritual wisdom.

The word इन्द्रम् (Indram) represents the Supreme Reality or the Supreme Self. It reminds us that the highest knowledge sought by human beings is not merely intellectual information but the realization of the Divine Truth. पृच्छा (Prichcha) emphasizes the importance of sincere inquiry. A genuine seeker should not hesitate to ask questions with humility and reverence before the Guru. The desire to know alone is not sufficient; true understanding dawns through humble inquiry, contemplation, and disciplined learning. विपश्चितम् (Vipashchitam) refers to the enlightened sage who has perceived the deeper truths of existence, understood the nature of life, and realized the Divine. Approaching such a realized teacher is the surest path toward genuine wisdom.

The words यः (Yah) and ते (Te) indicate that this sacred teaching is addressed personally to every individual seeker. At the same time, they remind us that spiritual wisdom is not meant for one person alone but is intended for the upliftment of all humanity. सखिभ्यः (Sakhibhyah) signifies friends, companions, and fellow seekers, emphasizing that true wisdom should be shared rather than possessed selfishly. आ (A) expresses the movement of wisdom from the Guru to the disciple, symbolizing the continuous flow of spiritual knowledge through the sacred tradition of teaching. Finally, वरम् (Varam) signifies the highest blessing—not worldly riches or temporary success, but spiritual realization, Divine knowledge, and the wisdom that reveals life’s highest purpose. This alone is the greatest treasure a human being can receive.

This mantra therefore teaches humanity to withdraw from external attachments, discipline the mind, cultivate purity, and approach an enlightened teacher with humility and sincere inquiry. Wisdom is never obtained accidentally; it is gained through the guidance of the Guru, through earnest questioning, and through a genuine longing for Truth. Therefore, one should renounce selfish desires, strengthen the mind, purify the heart, and seek the company of the wise in order to realize the highest Truth of life. This, the mantra declares, is the supreme goal of human existence, and true wealth is nothing other than spiritual wisdom.

Conclusion

This Vedic mantra stands as a profound spiritual teaching that redirects the course of human life from outward attractions toward the realization of inner wisdom. It clearly reveals that as long as a person remains bound by sensory pleasures, worldly desires, and selfish thoughts, the attainment of true knowledge remains impossible. Therefore, the first step on the spiritual path is to purify the mind, renounce attachment, and cultivate inner discipline, courage, and self-mastery.

Having attained such inner purity, one must approach an enlightened teacher who has conquered desire, anger, and greed, and seek the Truth through sincere, humble, and respectful inquiry. The mantra further teaches that spiritual wisdom is not meant to remain the possession of a single individual but is a divine treasure to be shared among all sincere seekers. True knowledge is not merely information about the external world; it is the supreme realization of the Divine and the deepest understanding of the purpose and essence of life.

Ultimately, this mantra guides humanity toward a life founded upon purity, humility, earnest seeking, and spiritual wisdom. It declares that true wealth is not found in material possessions but in noble thoughts, a purified mind, and the realization of the Supreme Truth. Therefore, by renouncing worldly attachments, approaching the enlightened teacher with reverence, asking sincere questions, and realizing the Truth of existence, one fulfills the highest purpose of human life. This mantra emphatically proclaims that the greatest blessing a person can ever attain is the wealth of Divine Wisdom, for it alone leads to lasting fulfillment, inner freedom, and ultimate spiritual realization.

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