Shloka 256
Jājali–Tulādhāra-saṃvāda: Yajña, Vṛtti, and Ātma-tīrtha (जाजलि-तुलाधार-संवादः)
इति श्रीमहा भारते शान्तिपर्वणि मोक्षधर्मपर्वणि मृत्युप्रजापतिसंवादोपक्रमे षट्पञ्चाशदधिकद्विशततमो<ध्याय:
iti śrīmahābhārate śāntiparvaṇi mokṣadharmaparvaṇi mṛtyuprajāpati-saṃvāda-upakramae ṣaṭpañcāśad-adhika-dviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ
Así, en el venerable Mahābhārata, dentro del Śānti Parva—en particular, en la sección Mokṣadharma—comienza la parte introductoria del diálogo entre Mṛtyu (la Muerte) y Prajāpati. Aquí concluye el capítulo doscientos cincuenta y seis (adhyāya 256).
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
This line functions as a colophon and thematic signpost: it frames the surrounding teaching as part of Mokṣadharma (the dharma of liberation) and signals that the discourse is anchored in a dialogue between Death (Mṛtyu) and the progenitor Prajāpati—implying reflection on mortality, cosmic order, and the path beyond fear and attachment.
The text marks a structural transition: within Śānti Parva’s Mokṣadharma section, the introductory setup for the Mṛtyu–Prajāpati dialogue is indicated, and the chapter count is stated—serving as the formal close/heading marker in the manuscript tradition.