Shloka 56
नारद–शुक संवादः
Impermanence, Svabhāva, and Śuka’s Resolve for Yoga
अन्यश्ष शाश्वृतोडव्यक्तस्तथान्य: पठचविंशक: । तस्य द्वावनुपश्येतां तमेकमिति साधव:
anyaś ca śāśvato ’vyaktas tathānyaḥ pañcaviṁśakaḥ | tasya dvāv anupaśyetāṁ tam ekam iti sādhavaḥ ||
ഒന്ന് ശാശ്വതമായ അവ്യക്തം; മറ്റൊന്ന് പഞ്ചവിംശ തത്ത്വം. എന്നാൽ സാദ്ധുക്കൾ ഈ രണ്ടിനെയും ആ ഏക പരമസത്യത്തെയേ സൂചിപ്പിക്കുന്നതായി കണ്ടു—“അത് ഒന്നേ” എന്നു പറയുന്നു.
याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that what are described as two principles—(1) the eternal Unmanifest (avyakta) and (2) the ‘twenty-fifth’ principle (pañcaviṁśaka, often Puruṣa)—are ultimately understood by the wise as indicating one single Reality. The ethical-spiritual implication is to move beyond conceptual divisions and seek the unifying truth through discernment.
In Śānti Parva’s philosophical instruction, Yājñavalkya is explaining a doctrinal point using Sāṅkhya-style terminology. He notes that different descriptions or enumerations may speak of an Unmanifest and a twenty-fifth principle, yet accomplished seekers interpret these as converging on one ultimate principle rather than two competing absolutes.