Shloka 4
Brahma-vidyā: Satya–Tapas and the Enumeration of Tattvas
Arjuna–Vāsudeva framed dialogue
भगवन्तं प्रपन्नो5हं नि:श्रेयसपरायण: । याचे त्वां शिरसा विप्र यद् ब्रूयां ब्रूहि तन्मम
bhagavantaṃ prapanno ’haṃ niḥśreyasaparāyaṇaḥ | yāce tvāṃ śirasā vipra yad brūyāṃ brūhi tan mama ||
«ឱ ព្រាហ្មណ៍ដ៏គួរគោរព! ខ្ញុំបានសុំជ្រកកោននៅក្នុងលោក ដោយចិត្តបំណងទៅរកនិស្ស្រេយសៈ—សេចក្តីប្រសើរខ្ពស់បំផុត។ ខ្ញុំសូមកោតក្បាលអង្វរ៖ អ្វីដែលខ្ញុំសួរ សូមលោកប្រាប់ខ្ញុំអំពីវា។»
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models the proper attitude for liberation-oriented learning: humble surrender to a qualified teacher and a focused quest for niḥśreyasa—the highest, lasting good (often aligned with mokṣa). Ethical learning begins with reverence, clarity of aim, and readiness to be instructed.
A seeker approaches a revered Brahmin-sage/teacher, bows in humility, and requests instruction. He frames his inquiry as a quest for ultimate welfare, asking the teacher to answer whatever he is about to ask—specifically, what constitutes true ‘śreyas’ (the good).