Shloka 9
Brahma-vidyā: Satya–Tapas and the Enumeration of Tattvas
Arjuna–Vāsudeva framed dialogue
के पन्थान: शिवाश्र स्यु: कि सुखं कि च दुष्कृतम् एतान् मे भगवन् प्रश्नान् याथातथ्येन सुव्रत
śiṣya uvāca | ke panthānaḥ śivāśrā syuḥ? ki sukhaṃ? ki ca duṣkṛtam? etān me bhagavan praśnān yāthātathyena suvrata |
Sang murid berkata: “Jalan-jalan manakah yang membawa pada kesejahteraan dan keberuntungan? Apakah kebahagiaan tertinggi? Dan apakah yang disebut dushkṛta (dosa)? Wahai Bhagavan, wahai yang berkaul mulia, jawablah pertanyaanku ini setepat-tepatnya menurut kebenaran.”
शिष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a classic ethical inquiry: identify the life-paths that lead to true welfare (śiva), define the nature of the highest happiness (sukha), and clarify what counts as wrongdoing (duṣkṛta). It also emphasizes that such discernment requires truthful instruction (yāthātathyena) from a qualified teacher.
In a guru–disciple setting within the Ashvamedhika Parva, the disciple respectfully questions the teacher, expressing strong eagerness to learn and acknowledging the teacher’s authority to explain the principles of liberating dharma.