Shloka 796
Āścarya-kathana: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Dialogue on Sūrya (Vivasvat) and the ‘Second Sun’ Phenomenon
वद सर्व यथादृष्ट॑ प्रवृत्ति च यथाक्रमम् । जनमेजयने पूछा--मुने! वैकारिक पुरुष भगवान् पुरुषोत्तमको कैसे प्राप्त कर सकता है? यह सब आप अपने अनुभवके अनुसार बताइये और उसकी प्रवृत्तिका भी क्रमशः वर्णन कीजिये
vad sarva yathādṛṣṭaṁ pravṛttiṁ ca yathākramam | janamejayena pṛṣṭaḥ—mune! vaikārikaḥ puruṣaḥ bhagavān puruṣottamaṁ kathaṁ prāptuṁ śaknoti? etat sarvaṁ bhavān svānubhava-anusāreṇa vada, tasya pravṛtteś ca kramam api yathāvat varṇaya ||
Janamejaya berkata: “Ceritakan kepadaku semuanya sebagaimana engkau telah melihatnya, dan jelaskan pula jalan praktik itu menurut urutannya. Wahai resi, bagaimana seseorang yang bersifat vaikarika—terikat pada perubahan dan olah dunia—dapat mencapai Bhagavān Puruṣottama, Pribadi Tertinggi? Terangkan semuanya menurut realisasimu sendiri, dan paparkan langkah demi langkah tata laku yang menuntun ke sana.”
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a disciplined spiritual inquiry: attainment of the Supreme Person is not presented as accidental but as something approached through an ordered course of conduct (pravṛtti) grounded in direct realization and reliable instruction. It emphasizes sequential practice, ethical alignment, and experiential understanding rather than mere speculation.
King Janamejaya addresses the sage and requests a clear, step-by-step explanation of how a changeable, conditioned human being can attain Bhagavān Puruṣottama. He asks the sage to speak from what he has truly known and to outline the proper progression of practice and conduct.