Shloka 112

नारद–शुक संवादः

Impermanence, Svabhāva, and Śuka’s Resolve for Yoga

Devanagari script

यदुपनिषदमुपाकरोत्‌ तथासौ जनकनृपस्य पुरा हि याज्ञवल्क्य: । यदुपगणितशाश्चताव्ययं त- च्छुभममृतत्वमशोकमर्च्छति

Transliteration

yad upaniṣadam upākarot tathāsau janaka-nṛpasya purā hi yājñavalkyaḥ | yad upagaṇitaśāśvatāvyayaṃ tac chubham amṛtatvam aśokam arcchati ||

Translation

ビーシュマは言った。「ヤージュニャヴァルキヤが古えにジャナカ王へ授けた、その奥義書（ウパニシャッド）の教えこそである。人がそれを省察し、身に沁み込ませるなら、永遠にして不壊の実在に到る。吉祥にして不死、そして憂いなきものへ。」

Word by Word

• {'upaniṣad': 'esoteric teaching

• Upanishadic knowledge concerning the Self/Brahman', 'upākarot': 'taught

• imparted', 'tathā': 'thus

• in that manner', 'asau': 'that (person)

• he', 'janaka-nṛpa': 'King Janaka (ruler of Videha, exemplar of a knower-king)', 'purā': 'formerly

• in ancient times', 'hi': 'indeed

• certainly (emphatic particle)', 'yājñavalkyaḥ': 'Yājñavalkya (renowned Vedic sage and teacher)', 'upagaṇita': 'reckoned

• duly considered/pondered', 'śāśvata': 'eternal

• everlasting', 'avyaya': 'imperishable

• undecaying', 'tat': 'that (Reality/Brahman)', 'śubha': 'auspicious

• supremely good', 'amṛtatva': 'immortality

• deathlessness', 'aśoka': 'free from sorrow

• sorrowless', 'arcchati (ṛcchati)': 'attains

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Yajnavalkya
• King Janaka

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Contemplation and assimilation of the Upanishadic knowledge taught by Yājñavalkya to Janaka leads to realization of the eternal, imperishable Brahman—described as auspicious, deathless, and sorrowless—thereby culminating in liberation.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on peace and liberation, Bhīṣma cites an authoritative precedent: the ancient dialogue/teaching where sage Yājñavalkya instructed King Janaka. Bhīṣma uses it to affirm that true knowledge, when properly pondered, grants freedom from grief and the highest attainment.