Shloka 10

Adhyāya 302: Guṇa-vicāra, Gati-bheda, and the Imperishable State

Yājñavalkya–Janaka

Devanagari script

स्वक्षरं प्रश्मितं वाक्‍्यं मधुरं चाप्यनुल्बणम्‌ | पप्रच्छर्षिवरं राजा करालजनक: पुरा

Transliteration

svakṣaraṁ praśmitaṁ vākyaṁ madhuraṁ cāpy anulbaṇam | papracchārṣivaraṁ rājā karālajanakaḥ purā ||

Translation

অনেক আগে করাল-জনক রাজা শ্রেষ্ঠ ঋষিকে প্রশ্ন করেছিলেন— সুগঠিত অক্ষরসমৃদ্ধ বাক্যে, মৃদু হাসিমিশ্র স্বরে, মধুর ও সংযত ভাষায়, কঠোরতা ও কুটতর্কবর্জিতভাবে।

Word by Word

• सु: well, good
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु

• अक्षरम्: syllable/lettering (well-formed)
• अक्षरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षर
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• प्रस्मितम्: smiling, with a gentle smile
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रस्मित
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• वाक्यम्: speech, statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• मधुरम्: sweet, pleasant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अपि: also, even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• अनुल्बणम्: not harsh/excessive; gentle, unstrained
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुल्बण
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• पप्रच्छ: asked, inquired
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: perfect (liṭ), third, singular

• ऋषिवरम्: the best of sages
• ऋषिवरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषिवर
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• करालजनकः: Karāla Janaka (Janaka named Karāla)
• करालजनकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: करालजनक
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• पुरा: formerly, in olden times
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Janaka (Karāla Janaka)
• ṛṣivara (an unnamed best of sages)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic etiquette in spiritual inquiry: one should approach the wise with humility and ask using well-chosen, gentle, sweet, and restrained words—avoiding harshness, excess, and argumentative speech.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma recalls an earlier episode in which King Janaka (called Karāla) goes to a great sage and poses a question respectfully, setting the stage for an instruction on adhyātma (spiritual knowledge).