Shloka 1
Nārāyaṇasya Guhya-nāmāni Niruktāni (Etymologies of Nārāyaṇa’s Secret Epithets) / नारायणस्य गुह्यनामानि निरुक्तानि
एकोनत्रिशर्दाधिकत्रिशततमो< ध्याय: शुकदेवजीको नारदजीका वैराग्य और ज्ञानका उपदेश भीष्म उवाच एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शून्ये नारद: समुपागमत् | शुकं स्वाध्यायनिरतं वेदार्थान् वक्तुमीप्सितान्
bhīṣma uvāca | etasminn antare śūnye nāradaḥ samupāgamat | śukaṃ svādhyāya-nirataṃ vedārthān vaktum īpsitān |
Bhīṣma dit : Cependant, lorsque l’ermitage fut devenu silencieux et désert, le sage divin Nārada arriva. Il s’approcha de Śuka, tout entier voué à l’étude de soi (svādhyāya), désirant qu’il exposât les sens des Veda qu’il souhaitait entendre ; ainsi se préparait l’enseignement de la connaissance et du détachement.
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.