Shloka 1
जनक–पराशर संवादः — वर्ण-गोत्र-धर्मविचारः
Janaka–Parāśara: Varṇa, Gotra, and Dharma Inquiry
ऑपनआक्रात बा सर: पज्चाशीत्यधिकद्धिशततमो< ध्याय: अध्यात्मज्ञानका और उसके फलका वर्णन युधिछिर उवाच अध्यात्म नाम यदिदं पुरुषस्येह विद्यते । यदध्यात्मं यतश्लैव तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: adhyātma nāma yad idaṃ puruṣasya iha vidyate | yad adhyātmaṃ yataś caiva tan me brūhi pitāmaha ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Grandfather, the scriptures speak of something called ‘adhyātma’ as pertaining to a person in this world. What exactly is this adhyātma, and from where does it arise? Please explain it to me.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the inquiry that drives the chapter: defining adhyātma (inner/spiritual knowledge) and identifying its source or basis, implying that ethical life and liberation depend on understanding the Self and its grounding.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully questions his ‘grandfather’ Bhīṣma, requesting a clear explanation of what the scriptures mean by adhyātma and how it originates, setting up Bhīṣma’s forthcoming instruction.