Shloka 11

Brahma-vidyā: Satya–Tapas and the Enumeration of Tattvas

Arjuna–Vāsudeva framed dialogue

Devanagari script

ब्रृहि धर्मविदां श्रेष्ठ परं कौतूहलं मम । मोक्षधर्मार्थकुशलो भवॉल्लोकेषु गीयते

Transliteration

śiṣya uvāca | brūhi dharmavidāṃ śreṣṭha paraṃ kautūhalaṃ mama | mokṣadharmārthakuśalo bhavāṃl lokeṣu gīyate | kaunakaunase mārgāḥ kalyāṇakaraṇāḥ? sarvottamaṃ sukhaṃ kim? pāpaṃ ca kiṃ pracakṣate? śreṣṭha vratabrata-ācaraṇakartṛn gurudeva! mamaite praśnāḥ yathārthataḥ samādhātuṃ tvam eva samarthaḥ | dharmajñeṣu śreṣṭha vipra! etad jñātuṃ mama manasi mahān autkaṇṭhyaḥ | asmin viṣaye etān praśnān tattvataḥ yathārthaṃ vaktuṃ tvadṛte nānyaḥ samarthaḥ | ataḥ tvam eva brūhi; yato loke mokṣadharmatatvajñāne tvam kuśala iti gīyase |

Translation

Dijo el discípulo: «Oh, el mejor entre los conocedores del dharma, dímelo: mi curiosidad es profunda. En los mundos eres celebrado como diestro en los fines y principios del mokṣa-dharma. ¿Qué senderos son en verdad portadores de bien? ¿Cuál es la dicha suprema? ¿Y qué es lo que se llama pecado? Oh maestro venerable, ejemplar en votos y conducta, sólo tú eres capaz de responder a estas preguntas tal como son. Oh el más eminente entre los brāhmaṇas eruditos, ardo en deseo de saberlo. En este asunto, fuera de ti no hay nadie competente para exponer la verdad en su esencia. Por ello, explícalo tú mismo, pues eres tenido por experto en el conocimiento verdadero del dharma que conduce a la liberación».

Word by Word

• ब्रूहि: tell (me)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), 2, singular, परस्मैपद

• धर्मविदाम्: of the knowers of dharma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मविद्
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

• श्रेष्ठ: O best
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• परम्: supreme, highest
• परम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• कौतूहलम्: curiosity, eagerness
• कौतूहलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौतूहल
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• मम: my, of me
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: genitive, singular

• मोक्षधर्मार्थकुशलः: skilled in the purport of mokṣa-dharma
• मोक्षधर्मार्थकुशलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोक्षधर्मार्थकुशल
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: भवत्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• लोकेषु: in the worlds, among people
• लोकेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: masculine, locative, plural

• गीयते: is sung/praised, is spoken of
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), 3, singular, कर्मणि (passive)

Speaker

शिष्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• śiṣya (disciple)
• gurudeva (teacher)
• vipra (brāhmaṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a classical ethical inquiry: the disciple seeks authoritative guidance on (1) welfare-producing paths (kalyāṇa-mārga), (2) the highest form of happiness, and (3) what constitutes sin (pāpa). It establishes mokṣa-dharma as the lens for answering—truthful, essential understanding leading toward liberation.

What is happening in the narrative?

A disciple respectfully addresses a renowned teacher, praising his mastery of mokṣa-dharma and urging him to answer pressing questions. The scene sets up a didactic exchange where the teacher is about to expound on right paths, supreme happiness, and the nature of wrongdoing.