Shloka 9
आत्मदर्शन-उपदेशः (Ātma-darśana Upadeśa) — Mind, Senses, and the All-pervading Self
श्रीशुक उवाच भूतग्रामस्य कर्तारें कालज्ञाने च निश्चयम् । ब्राह्मणस्य च यत् कृत्यं तद् भवान् वक्तुमहति,श्रीशुकदेवजी बोले--पिताजी! समस्त प्राणि-समुदायको उत्पन्न करनेवाला कौन है? कालके ज्ञानके विषयमें आपका क्या निश्चय है? और ब्राह्मणका क्या कर्तव्य है? ये सब बातें आप बतानेकी कृपा करें
śrīśuka uvāca | bhūtagrāmasya kartāraṃ kālajñāne ca niścayam | brāhmaṇasya ca yat kṛtyaṃ tad bhavān vaktum arhati ||
श्रीशुक म्हणाला—पिताजी! समस्त प्राणीसमुदायाचा कर्ता कोण? काळज्ञानाविषयी आपला निश्चय काय? आणि ब्राह्मणाचे कर्तव्य कोणते? कृपा करून हे सर्व आपण सांगावे।
श्रीशुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames three foundational inquiries for dharma and wisdom: the source of all beings (cosmic causality), the true understanding of Time as a governing principle of change and destiny, and the prescribed conduct of a brāhmaṇa—linking metaphysical insight with ethical obligation.
Śuka respectfully questions his father/teacher, requesting instruction on creation, the nature and certainty of knowledge about Time, and the duties appropriate to a brāhmaṇa—setting up a didactic exposition typical of Śānti Parva’s reflective, philosophical discourse.