Shloka 25
Adhyāya 249 — Mṛtyu-prādurbhāvaḥ (The Manifestation of Death) / Restraint of Tejas and Ordered Saṃhāra
तत् प्रीतियुक्तेन गुणान्वितेन पुत्रेण सत्पुत्र दमान्वितेन । पृष्टो हि सम्प्रीतमना यथार्थ ब्रूयात् सुतस्येह यदुक्तमेतत्
tat prīti-yuktena guṇānvitena putreṇa satputra damānvitena | pṛṣṭo hi samprīta-manā yathārthaṁ brūyāt sutasyeha yad uktam etat || satputra śukadeva! prīti-yuktaḥ guṇavān tathendriya-saṁyamī putra yadi praśna kare to pitā santuṣṭa-citta hokar us jijñāsu putra-ke samīpa yathārtha-rūpa-se is jñāna-kā upadeś kare, jo kuch maine tumhāre nikaṭ kahā hai ||
Vyāsa said: When a worthy son—affectionate, endowed with virtues, and disciplined in self-control—asks a question, the father, pleased at heart, should speak to that inquiring son truthfully and as it really is, imparting this very knowledge that has been stated here. O noble son Śukadeva, if such a loving, virtuous, and sense-restrained son inquires, the father should, with a satisfied mind, teach him this instruction exactly as it is.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A father (or elder teacher) should impart knowledge truthfully and without distortion when questioned by a worthy, affectionate, virtuous, and self-controlled son; the student’s character and sincerity make him fit to receive instruction.
Vyāsa addresses Śukadeva, describing the proper circumstance for transmitting higher knowledge: when a disciplined and virtuous son asks with genuine curiosity, the father, pleased, should teach him exactly what has been taught here.