Shloka 10
Jarā-Mṛtyu-anatikrama: Janaka–Pañcaśikha-saṃvāda
Aging and Death Cannot Be Overstepped
विद्याविद्यार्थतत्त्वेन मयोक्ता ते विशेषत: । अक्षरं च क्षरं चैव यदुक्त तन्निबोध मे
vidyāvidyārthatattvena mayoktā te viśeṣataḥ | akṣaraṃ ca kṣaraṃ caiva yaduktaṃ tannibodha me
Vasiṣṭha sprach: „Ich habe dir mit besonderer Deutlichkeit den wahren Sinn von Wissen und Unwissen dargelegt. Nun verstehe von mir, was über das Unvergängliche (akṣara) und das Vergängliche (kṣara) gelehrt wurde.“
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a transition from explaining the real meaning of knowledge versus ignorance to clarifying the distinction between the imperishable (akṣara) and the perishable (kṣara). Ethically, it points toward discernment: liberation-oriented knowledge recognizes what is enduring and what is transient, reducing attachment and confusion.
Vasiṣṭha, as teacher, reminds the listener that he has already set out the essentials of vidyā and avidyā, and now invites attentive understanding of his further instruction about akṣara and kṣara—continuing a didactic, contemplative discourse typical of the Śānti Parva’s teachings on peace and liberation.