Shloka 31
नारद–शुक संवादः
Impermanence, Svabhāva, and Śuka’s Resolve for Yoga
अथोक्तश्न महाराज राजा गन्धर्वसत्तम: । पृष्टवाननुपूर्वेण प्रश्नमर्थविदुत्तमम्
atho'ktaś ca mahārāja rājā gandharva-sattamaḥ | pṛṣṭavān anupūrveṇa praśnam artha-vid-uttamam ||
Yājñavalkya berkata: “Wahai Maharaja, setelah mendengar itu, raja—yang utama di antara para Gandharva—mengajukan pertanyaan-pertanyaannya berurutan, pertanyaan yang paling bernilai, dari seorang yang memahami maknanya. Lalu aku berkata kepadanya: ‘Wahai Raja, engkau telah mengajukan pertanyaan-pertanyaan yang amat luhur satu demi satu; engkau mengetahui maksudnya. Tunggulah sejenak; sementara itu akan kupikirkan pertanyaan-pertanyaanmu.’ Mendengar itu, sang raja Gandharva berkata, ‘Baiklah,’ lalu duduk diam.”
याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models disciplined inquiry and responsible speech: even a wise teacher pauses to reflect before answering weighty questions, emphasizing that ethical and dharmic matters require careful deliberation rather than impulsive replies.
After prior discussion, the Gandharva king (Viśvāvasu) asks a series of well-ordered questions. Yājñavalkya praises the questions and the questioner’s discernment, requests time to consider, and the Gandharva king agrees and sits silently.