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Shloka 3

अध्याय ३२३ — श्वेतद्वीपगमनम्, यज्ञभाग-विवादः, एकान्तिभक्त्या नारायणदर्शन-नियमः (Śvetadvīpa Journey; Dispute over Sacrificial Share; Rule of Nārāyaṇa-vision through Single-minded Devotion)

कथं च बालस्य सतः: सूक्ष्मज्ञाने गता मतिः । यथा नान्यस्य लोके5स्मिन्‌ द्वितीयस्येह कस्यचित्‌,शुकदेवजी अभी बालक थे तो भी सूक्ष्मज्ञानमें उनकी बुद्धि कैसे लगी? इस संसारमें उनके सिवा दूसरे किसीकी ऐसी बुद्धि नहीं देखी गयी

kathaṃ ca bālasya sataḥ sūkṣmajñāne gatā matiḥ | yathā nānyasya loke 'smin dvitīyasyeha kasyacit ||

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “How did the mind of Śuka—though still a mere boy—come to rest in subtle, penetrating knowledge? In this world I have not seen anyone else, a second person, with such an intellect.”

कथम्how?
कथम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम्
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
बालस्यof a child / of the boy
बालस्य:
TypeNoun
Rootबाल
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
सतःbeing / existing (i.e., though he was)
सतः:
TypeAdjective
Rootसत्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
सूक्ष्मज्ञानेin subtle knowledge
सूक्ष्मज्ञाने:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसूक्ष्मज्ञान
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
गताgone / directed / fixed
गता:
TypeVerb
Rootगम्
Formक्त (past passive participle), Feminine, Nominative, Singular
मतिःintellect, understanding
मतिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमति
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
यथाas / in such a way that
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अन्यस्यof another (person)
अन्यस्य:
TypePronoun
Rootअन्य
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
लोकेin the world
लोके:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootलोक
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
अस्मिन्in this
अस्मिन्:
Adhikarana
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular
द्वितीयस्यof a second (one)
द्वितीयस्य:
TypeAdjective
Rootद्वितीय
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
इहhere
इह:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइह
कस्यचित्of anyone whatsoever
कस्यचित्:
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular, चित् (indefinite)

युधिछिर उवाच

Y
Yudhiṣṭhira
Ś
Śukadeva (Śuka)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights wonder at extraordinary spiritual maturity: true insight (sūkṣma-jñāna) can manifest even in youth, suggesting that inner readiness for knowledge is not strictly dependent on age but on innate disposition, prior cultivation, and clarity of mind.

Yudhiṣṭhira, hearing about Śukadeva’s exceptional wisdom, asks how Śuka—despite being a child—developed such subtle understanding, noting that he has not seen anyone else comparable in this world.