Shloka 1
एकोनत्रिशर्दाधिकत्रिशततमो< ध्याय: शुकदेवजीको नारदजीका वैराग्य और ज्ञानका उपदेश भीष्म उवाच एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शून्ये नारद: समुपागमत् | शुकं स्वाध्यायनिरतं वेदार्थान् वक्तुमीप्सितान्,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--युधिष्ठिर! व्यासजीके चले जानेके बाद उस सूने आश्रममें स्वाध्यायपरायण शुकदेवसे अपना इच्छित वेदोंका अर्थ कहनेके लिये देवर्षि नारदजी पधारे
bhīṣma uvāca | etasminn antare śūnye nāradaḥ samupāgamat | śukaṃ svādhyāya-nirataṃ vedārthān vaktum īpsitān |
Bhishma said: In the meantime, when the hermitage had become quiet and empty, the divine sage Narada arrived. He approached Shuka, who was devoted to self-study, intending to have him expound the meanings of the Vedas that Narada wished to hear—thus setting the stage for instruction in knowledge and dispassion.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the ethical-spiritual setting for instruction: true understanding of dharma is supported by svādhyāya (disciplined study), and the pursuit of vedārtha (Vedic meaning) is linked with jñāna (insight) and vairāgya (detachment).
After Vyasa has departed, the hermitage becomes quiet; Narada arrives and approaches Shuka—who is absorbed in self-study—seeking an exposition of the Vedas’ meanings, initiating a teaching dialogue.