Shloka 2636
नारद–शुक संवादः
Impermanence, Svabhāva, and Śuka’s Resolve for Yoga
विश्वावसुस्ततो राजन् वेदान्तज्ञानकोविद: । राजन्! एक समय वेदान्तज्ञानमें कुशल विश्वावसु नामक गन्धर्व मेरे पास आया एवं इस बातका विचार करते हुए कि यहाँ ब्राह्मण-जातिके लिये हितकर क्या है? सत्य और सर्वोत्तम ज्ञातव्य वस्तु क्या है? मुझसे पूछने लगा
Viśvāvasus tato rājan vedāntajñānakovidaḥ | rājan! eka samaye vedāntajñāne kuśalaḥ Viśvāvasu-nāmā gandharvaḥ mama pāśam āgāt, etad vicārayan—iha brāhmaṇa-jāteḥ hitakaraṃ kiṃ syāt? satyaṃ ca sarvottamaṃ jñātavya-vastu kiṃ?—iti mām apṛcchat.
Dijo Yājñavalkya: «Entonces, oh Rey, vino a mí Viśvāvasu, un gandharva versado en el conocimiento del Vedānta. En cierta ocasión, reflexionando sobre qué sería verdaderamente beneficioso para la comunidad de los brahmanes y cuál es el objeto real y supremo del conocimiento, se acercó a mí y me interrogó al respecto».
याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the ethical-intellectual problem that will guide the teaching: discerning what truly benefits the Brahmin community and identifying the real, supreme object of knowledge (satya and the highest jñātavya). It establishes Vedāntic inquiry as a dharmic pursuit aimed at welfare and ultimate truth.
Yājñavalkya recounts to the King that a Gandharva named Viśvāvasu, renowned for Vedānta-knowledge, once came to him. After reflecting on communal welfare and ultimate truth, Viśvāvasu approaches Yājñavalkya and asks him these questions, initiating a doctrinal conversation.