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Shloka 1

Yajña-bhāga-vyavasthā and the Pravṛtti–Nivṛtti Framework (यज्ञभागव्यवस्था तथा प्रवृत्तिनिवृत्तिधर्मविवेचनम्)

Devanagari script

इस प्रकार श्रीमह्ाभारत शान्तिपर्वके अन्तर्गत मोक्षधर्मपर्वमें शुकोत्पत्तिविषयक तीन सौ छब्बीसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ ॥/ ३२६ ॥। ऑपन-- मा बक। डे सप्तविशर्त्याधिकत्रिशततमो< ध्याय: शुकदेवजीका पिताके पास लौट आना तथा व्यासजीका अपने शिष्योंको स्वाध्यायकी विधि बताना भीष्म उवाच एतच्छुत्वा तु वचन कृतात्मा कृतनिश्चयः । आत्मना55त्मानमास्थाय दृष्टू चात्मानमात्मना,भीष्मजी कहते हैं-युधिष्ठिर राजा जनककी यह बात सुनकर विशुद्ध अन्तःकरणवाले शुकदेवजी एक दृढ़ निश्चयपर पहुँच गये और बुद्धिके द्वारा आत्मामें स्थित होकर स्वयं अपने आत्मस्वरूपका साक्षात्कार करके कृतार्थ हो गये। एवं आनन्दमग्न हो, बड़ी शान्तिका अनुभव करते हुए हिमालयपर्वतको लक्ष्य करके वायुके समान वेगसे चुपचाप उत्तर दिशाकी ओर चल दिये

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | etac chrutvā tu vacanaṁ kṛtātmā kṛtaniścayaḥ | ātmanā ātmanam āsthāya dṛṣṭvā cātmānam ātmanā ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: Hearing these words, Śuka—his inner being purified and his resolve made firm—took refuge in the Self through the Self, and by the Self beheld the Self. Thus fulfilled, he became absorbed in bliss and, experiencing profound peace, silently set out northward toward the Himālayas with the speed of the wind.

Word by Word

एतत्this (statement/thing)

श्रुत्वाhaving heard

तुbut/indeed

वचनम्speech/words

कृतात्माself-controlled/purified-minded

कृतनिश्चयःone whose resolve is made/firmly resolved

आत्मनाby/with the self

आत्मानम्the self

आस्थायhaving resorted to/establishing oneself in

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen/realized

चand

आत्मानम्the self

आत्मनाby the self (through oneself)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma (Bhīṣma)

Shuka (Śuka/Śukadeva)

Yudhishthira (Yudhiṣṭhira)

Janaka (Janaka)

Himalaya (Himālaya)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes direct realization of the Self: through inner purification and firm resolve, one abides in the Self and ‘sees’ the Self by the Self—pointing to moksha as experiential knowledge rather than mere doctrine.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing Janaka’s instruction, Shuka attains settled conviction and self-realization. Fulfilled and peaceful, he departs silently toward the northern Himalayas, marking a transition from instruction to lived renunciation.