Shloka 11
Brahma-vidyā: Satya–Tapas and the Enumeration of Tattvas
Arjuna–Vāsudeva framed dialogue
ब्रृहि धर्मविदां श्रेष्ठ परं कौतूहलं मम । मोक्षधर्मार्थकुशलो भवॉल्लोकेषु गीयते,कौन-कौन-से मार्ग कल्याण करनेवाले हैं? सर्वोत्तम सुख क्या है? और पाप किसे कहते हैं? श्रेष्ठ व्रबरका आचरण करनेवाले गुरुदेव! मेरे इन प्रश्नोंका आप यथार्थरूपसे उत्तर देनेमें समर्थ हैं। धर्मज्ञोंमें श्रेष्ठ विप्रषें! यह सब जाननेके लिये मेरे मनमें बड़ी उत्कण्ठा है। इस विषयमें इन प्रश्नोंका तत्त्वतः यथार्थ उत्तर देनेमें आपसे अतिरिक्त दूसरा कोई समर्थ नहीं है। अत: आप ही बतलाइये; क्योंकि संसारमें मोक्षधर्मोके तत्त्वके ज्ञानममें आप कुशल बताये गये हैं
śiṣya uvāca | brūhi dharmavidāṃ śreṣṭha paraṃ kautūhalaṃ mama | mokṣadharmārthakuśalo bhavāṃl lokeṣu gīyate | kaunakaunase mārgāḥ kalyāṇakaraṇāḥ? sarvottamaṃ sukhaṃ kim? pāpaṃ ca kiṃ pracakṣate? śreṣṭha vratabrata-ācaraṇakartṛn gurudeva! mamaite praśnāḥ yathārthataḥ samādhātuṃ tvam eva samarthaḥ | dharmajñeṣu śreṣṭha vipra! etad jñātuṃ mama manasi mahān autkaṇṭhyaḥ | asmin viṣaye etān praśnān tattvataḥ yathārthaṃ vaktuṃ tvadṛte nānyaḥ samarthaḥ | ataḥ tvam eva brūhi; yato loke mokṣadharmatatvajñāne tvam kuśala iti gīyase |
The disciple said: “O best among the knowers of dharma, tell me—my curiosity is profound. You are renowned in the worlds as one skilled in the aims and principles of mokṣa-dharma. Which paths are truly welfare-bringing? What is the highest happiness? And what is called sin? O revered teacher, exemplary in vows and conduct, you alone are capable of answering these questions as they really are. O foremost among the learned brāhmaṇas, I feel great eagerness to know this. On this subject, apart from you there is no one competent to state the truth in its essence. Therefore, you yourself should explain, for you are celebrated as expert in the true knowledge of the dharma that leads to liberation.”
शिष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a classical ethical inquiry: the disciple seeks authoritative guidance on (1) welfare-producing paths (kalyāṇa-mārga), (2) the highest form of happiness, and (3) what constitutes sin (pāpa). It establishes mokṣa-dharma as the lens for answering—truthful, essential understanding leading toward liberation.
A disciple respectfully addresses a renowned teacher, praising his mastery of mokṣa-dharma and urging him to answer pressing questions. The scene sets up a didactic exchange where the teacher is about to expound on right paths, supreme happiness, and the nature of wrongdoing.