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Shloka 3

Adhyātma-krama: Indriya–Manas–Buddhi–Ātman Hierarchy and Citta-Prasāda (आध्यात्मक्रमः)

तत्र वेदविधि: स स्याज्ज्ञानं चेत्‌ पुरुष प्रति । उपपच्त्युपलब्धिभ्यां वर्णयिष्यामि तच्छुणु,उपर्युक्त संशय होनेपर यह कहा जाता है कि यदि वह पुरुषके लिये वैदिक विधानके अनुसार कर्त्तव्य हो तो ज्ञानजन्य है, अन्यथा स्वाभाविक है। मैं युक्ति और फल-प्राप्तिके सहित इस विषयका वर्णन करूँगा, तुम उसे सुनो

tatra vedavidhiḥ sa syāj jñānaṃ cet puruṣa prati | upapatt yupalabdhībhyāṃ varṇayiṣyāmi tac chṛṇu ||

Vyāsa berkata: “Dalam hal ini dikatakan: jika bagi seseorang ia menjadi perintah Veda kerana berasaskan pengetahuan, maka ia adalah tindakan yang lahir daripada pengetahuan; jika tidak, ia hanyalah semula jadi (spontan). Aku akan menerangkannya kepadamu dengan hujah dan dengan merujuk kepada hasil pencapaian—dengarlah.”

{'tatra''there
{'tatra':
with regard to that topic', 'veda-vidhiḥ''Vedic rule
with regard to that topic', 'veda-vidhiḥ':
scriptural injunction', 'saḥ syāt''it would be
scriptural injunction', 'saḥ syāt':
it becomes', 'jñānam''knowledge
it becomes', 'jñānam':
true understanding', 'cet''if', 'puruṣa prati': 'toward/for a person
true understanding', 'cet':
with respect to an individual', 'upapatti''reasoned justification
with respect to an individual', 'upapatti':
logical demonstration', 'upalabdhi''direct apprehension
logical demonstration', 'upalabdhi':
attainment', 'ubhayābhyām''by both (means)', 'varṇayiṣyāmi': 'I will describe
attainment', 'ubhayābhyām':
I will explain', 'tat''that (teaching/topic)', 'śṛṇu': 'listen'}
I will explain', 'tat':

व्यास उवाच

V
Vyāsa

Educational Q&A

Vyāsa distinguishes between conduct that is a binding Vedic injunction for a person (when it is supported by true knowledge) and conduct that is merely natural or spontaneous. He promises to clarify the issue using both rational argument (upapatti) and experiential/result-based confirmation (upalabdhi).

In the didactic setting of Śānti Parva, Vyāsa addresses a doubt about what should be regarded as obligatory (scripturally enjoined) versus what is simply natural disposition. He introduces his method: explanation through reasoning and through the outcomes/attainments that follow.