Brahma-vidyā: Satya–Tapas and the Enumeration of Tattvas
Arjuna–Vāsudeva framed dialogue
शिष्य उवाच कुतश्चाहं कुतश्च त्वं तत्सत्यं ब्रूहि यत्परम् । कुतो जातानि भूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च
śiṣya uvāca | kutaścāhaṃ kutaśca tvaṃ tatsatyaṃ brūhi yatparam | kuto jātāni bhūtāni sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca ||
Sang murid berkata: “Wahai brāhmaṇa utama, dari mana aku datang, dan dari mana engkau datang? Katakanlah dengan benar hakikat tertinggi itu. Dari sumber apakah semua makhluk lahir—yang tak bergerak maupun yang bergerak?”
शिष्य उवाच
The verse frames a foundational inquiry: the disciple seeks the highest truth (parama-tattva) by asking about the ultimate source of self, teacher, and all beings—movable and immovable—thus setting the stage for a metaphysical explanation of creation and reality.
In a teacher–disciple setting, the student respectfully questions the learned teacher about origins—his own, the teacher’s, and the entire world of living beings—requesting a truthful exposition of the supreme principle behind existence.