Shloka 1

अव्यक्तकालमान-निर्णयः

Measures of Time from the Unmanifest; Creation, Elements, and the Primacy of Mind

Devanagari script

युधिष्ठिरने पूछा--पितामह! संसारमें बहुत-से विद्वान्‌ सत्य

Transliteration

Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |

Sāṅkhye yoge ca me tāta viśeṣaṃ vaktum arhasi |

Tava dharmajña sarvaṃ hi viditaṃ Kurusattama ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O revered grandsire, please explain to me the distinction between Sāṅkhya and Yoga. For you, knower of dharma, understand all things—O best of the Kurus.”

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhishthira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सांख्ये: in Sāṅkhya (doctrine/path)
• सांख्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सांख्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• योगे: in Yoga (path)
• योगे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

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

• मे: my / for me
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• तात: O dear father/sir (term of address)
• तात: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• विशेषम्: the distinction, difference
• विशेषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वक्तुम्: to tell, to explain
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Tumun (infinitive)

• अर्हसि: you are able/fit; you should
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: Present, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तव: your
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• धर्मज्ञ: O knower of dharma
• धर्मज्ञ: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• हि: indeed, for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• विदितम्: known
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विदित
• Form: Past passive participle (kta), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• कुरुसत्तम: O best of the Kurus
• कुरुसत्तम: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुसत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Bhīṣma (implied by the address 'tāta' and 'Kurusattama')
• Kuru lineage (Kuru)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a philosophical inquiry: Yudhiṣṭhira seeks a clear distinction between two liberation-oriented paths—Sāṅkhya (discernment/knowledge) and Yoga (disciplined practice). It emphasizes that ethical and spiritual clarity comes through competent instruction from a dharma-knower.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s Mokṣadharma section, Yudhiṣṭhira continues his post-war questioning of Bhīṣma. Here he respectfully requests Bhīṣma to explain how Sāṅkhya and Yoga differ, setting up a teaching on their methods, aims, and practical implications.