Shloka 19
Karma, Preta-gati, and the Continuity of Phala
Mārkaṇḍeya’s Instruction
वेद्यं च ब्राह्मणेनेह तद् भवान् वेत्ति केवलम् | सर्पराज ततः: श्र॒त्वा प्रतिवक्ष्यामि ते वच:,सर्पराज! ब्राह्मणको इस जीवनमें जो कुछ जानना चाहिये, वह केवल तत्त्व तुम जानते हो या नहीं। यह सुनकर मैं तुम्हारे प्रश्नोंका उत्तर दूँगा
vedyaṃ ca brāhmaṇeneha tad bhavān vetti kevalam | sarparāja tataḥ śrutvā prativakṣyāmi te vacaḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Here, what a brāhmaṇa ought to know—you alone, O Serpent-King, know it in its entirety. Having heard this, O Sarparāja, I shall reply to your words (and questions).”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames true knowledge (vedya) as ethically charged—what a brāhmaṇa ought to know—and presents humility before wisdom: Yudhiṣṭhira acknowledges the Serpent-King’s mastery and commits to answering carefully after listening.
In the Vana Parva dialogue setting, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses the Nāga-king respectfully, recognizes him as a knower of the essential brahminical knowledge, and signals that after hearing the king’s words/questions he will respond.