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Shloka 31

नारद–शुक संवादः

Impermanence, Svabhāva, and Śuka’s Resolve for Yoga

अथोक्तश्न महाराज राजा गन्धर्वसत्तम: । पृष्टवाननुपूर्वेण प्रश्नमर्थविदुत्तमम्‌

atho'ktaś ca mahārāja rājā gandharva-sattamaḥ | pṛṣṭavān anupūrveṇa praśnam artha-vid-uttamam ||

قال ياجْنَفَلْكْيَا: «أيها الملك العظيم، لما سمع ما قيل، قام أرفعُ الغَنْدَهَرْڤا—الملك—فسأل أسئلته على الترتيب، أسئلةً هي في غاية الشأن، يسألها من عرف المعنى حقًّا. فقلتُ لملك الغندهرڤا: “أيها الملك، لقد أثرتَ أسئلةً بديعةً واحدةً بعد أخرى، وأنت عالمٌ بمقاصدها. فتمهّل قليلًا؛ وفي هذه الأثناء أتدبّر أسئلتك.” فقال: “حسنٌ”، ثم جلس صامتًا.»

अथthen/now
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
उक्तःhaving been spoken/said
उक्तः:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
Formक्त (past passive participle), masculine, nominative, singular
सन्being
सन्:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
Formशतृ (present active participle), masculine, nominative, singular
महाराजO great king
महाराज:
TypeNoun
Rootमहाराज
Formmasculine, vocative, singular
राजाthe king
राजा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
गन्धर्व-सत्तमःthe best of Gandharvas
गन्धर्व-सत्तमः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootगन्धर्वसत्तम
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
पृष्टवान्asked
पृष्टवान्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootप्रच्छ्
Formक्तवतु (perfective active participle), masculine, nominative, singular
अनुपूर्वेणin due order, sequentially
अनुपूर्वेण:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअनुपूर्व
प्रश्नम्a question
प्रश्नम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootप्रश्न
Formmasculine, accusative, singular
अर्थ-विद्-उत्तमम्excellent (question) of one who knows the meaning/purport
अर्थ-विद्-उत्तमम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअर्थविदुत्तम
Formmasculine, accusative, singular

याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच

Y
Yājñavalkya
V
Viśvāvasu (Gandharva king)
G
Gandharvas
M
Mahārāja (addressed king)

Educational Q&A

The verse models disciplined inquiry and responsible speech: even a wise teacher pauses to reflect before answering weighty questions, emphasizing that ethical and dharmic matters require careful deliberation rather than impulsive replies.

After prior discussion, the Gandharva king (Viśvāvasu) asks a series of well-ordered questions. Yājñavalkya praises the questions and the questioner’s discernment, requests time to consider, and the Gandharva king agrees and sits silently.