Shloka 11
Adhyāya 314 — हिमवदाश्रमः, शक्तिक्षेपकथा, तथा स्वाध्यायविधिः
Himalayan Hermitage, the Myth of the Thrown Spear, and Rules of Vedic Study
अव्यक्तस्थं परं यत् तत् पृष्टस्ते5हं नराधिप । स एष प्रकृतिस्थो हि तत्स्थ इत्यभिधीयते
avyaktasthaṁ paraṁ yat tat pṛṣṭas te ’haṁ narādhipa | sa eṣa prakṛtistho hi tatstha ity abhidhīyate ||
Wahai raja, engkau bertanya kepadaku tentang Realitas Tertinggi yang bersemayam dalam Yang Tak-Termanifest. Jawabku: Yang Mahatinggi itu disebut ‘berada dalam Prakṛti’ karena sesungguhnya Ia hadir di dalam Prakṛti dan menetap di sana.
याज़्वल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse clarifies a key metaphysical point: the Supreme Reality, though described as abiding in the Unmanifest (avyakta), is also spoken of as ‘prakṛtistha’ because it is present within and associated with Prakṛti at the level of embodied existence. The teaching reconciles transcendence (beyond perception) with immanence (present within nature).
In a didactic dialogue in Śānti Parva, the sage Yājñavalkya responds to a king’s inquiry about the highest principle connected with the Unmanifest. He begins his answer by defining the terminology—why the Supreme is termed ‘situated in Prakṛti’—setting the stage for further explanation of reality, embodiment, and liberation.