Shloka 29
नारद–शुक संवादः
Impermanence, Svabhāva, and Śuka’s Resolve for Yoga
ज्ञान ज्ञेयं तथा ज्ञो$ज्ञ: कस्तपा अतपास्तथा | सूर्याति सूर्य इति च विद्याविद्ये तथैव च
jñānaṃ jñeyaṃ tathā jño ’jñaḥ kas tapā atapās tathā | sūryāti-sūrya iti ca vidyāvidye tathaiva ca ||
قال ياجْنَفَلْكْيَا: «(إنما تسأل:) ما المعرفة، وما المعلوم؟ من العارف، ومن الجاهل؟ من الزاهد حقًّا، ومن ليس بزاهد؟ من هو “الشمس”، ومن هو “ما وراء الشمس”؟ وكذلك ما هي الفِدْيَا (vidyā: العلم الحق) وما هي الأڤِدْيَا (avidyā: الجهل)؟»
याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a systematic set of philosophical distinctions—knowledge/knowable, knower/ignorant, true austerity/false austerity, and vidyā/avidyā—implying that ethical and spiritual progress depends on correct discernment of these categories.
Yājñavalkya is responding in a didactic setting within Śānti Parva, restating a sequence of questions that guide the forthcoming explanation of metaphysical and ethical fundamentals.