भरद्वाज उवाच अस्माल्लोकात् परो लोक: श्रूयते नोपलभ्यते । तमहं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तद् भवान् वक्तुमहति,भरद्वाजने पूछा--ब्रह्मन! इस लोकसे कोई श्रेष्ठ लोक सुना जाता है; किंतु वह देखनेमें नहीं आता। मैं उसे जानना चाहता हूँ, आप उसे बतानेकी कृपा करें
bharadvāja uvāca | asmāl lokāt paro lokaḥ śrūyate nopalabhyate | tam ahaṃ jñātum icchāmi tad bhavān vaktum arhati ||
ಭರದ್ವಾಜನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಹೇ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣನೇ! ಈ ಲೋಕದ ಪಾರ ಒಂದು ಉನ್ನತ ಲೋಕವಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಕೇಳಿಬರುತ್ತದೆ; ಆದರೆ ಅದು ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷವಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾನು ಅದನ್ನು ತಿಳಿಯಲು ಇಚ್ಛಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ; ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ನೀವು ಹೇಳಬೇಕು।
भरद्वाज उवाच
The verse frames a classical dharmic inquiry: some truths (like the ‘higher world’ or paraloka) are known through reliable testimony and disciplined understanding rather than direct sensory perception. It legitimizes seeking guidance from a qualified teacher to bridge the gap between what is ‘heard’ (śrūyate) and what is ‘seen’ (upalabhyate).
In a teacher–student style exchange within the Śānti Parva, the sage Bharadvāja respectfully asks an authoritative speaker to explain the existence and nature of a higher realm beyond the visible world, since it is taught in tradition but not directly perceived.