Shloka 248

Bhūta-guṇa-saṃkhyāna

Enumeration of the Properties of the Elements and Cognitive Faculties

Devanagari script

इति श्रीमहाभारते शान्तिपर्वणि मोक्षधर्मपर्वणि शुकानुप्रश्ने अष्टचत्वारिंशदधिकद्धिशततमो<5 ध्याय:

Transliteration

iti śrīmahābhārate śāntiparvaṇi mokṣadharmaparvaṇi śukānupraśne aṣṭacatvāriṃśad-adhika-dviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ |

Translation

Thus, in the Śrī Mahābhārata, within the Śānti Parva—specifically the Mokṣa-dharma section—ends the two-hundred-and-forty-eighth chapter, concerning Śuka’s further inquiry. This is the formal colophon marking the close of the chapter and its thematic frame: liberation-oriented dharma explored through Śuka’s questioning.

Word by Word

• इति: thus; end-quote marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• श्रीमहाभारते: in the revered Mahabharata
• श्रीमहाभारते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभारत
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• शान्तिपर्वणि: in the Shanti Parva
• शान्तिपर्वणि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्तिपर्वन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• मोक्षधर्मपर्वणि: in the Mokshadharma section
• मोक्षधर्मपर्वणि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्षधर्मपर्वन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• शुकानुप्रश्ने: in (the topic of) Shuka's follow-up question(s)
• शुकानुप्रश्ने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुकानुप्रश्न
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• अष्टचत्वारिंशदधिकद्विशततमः: the 248th
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टचत्वारिंशदधिकद्विशततम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mahābhārata
• Śānti Parva
• Mokṣa-dharma Parva
• Śuka
• Vyāsa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

This line is a colophon rather than a doctrinal verse: it frames the teaching as belonging to Mokṣa-dharma (liberation-oriented dharma) and signals that the chapter’s discussion is structured around Śuka’s further inquiry, emphasizing the pedagogical method of questioning in spiritual instruction.

What is happening in the narrative?

The chapter concludes. The text formally records its placement within the Mahābhārata (Śānti Parva → Mokṣa-dharma section) and identifies the chapter’s topic as Śuka’s follow-up questions, marking the end of the 248th chapter.