Shloka 3
Adhyāya 302: Guṇa-vicāra, Gati-bheda, and the Imperishable State
Yājñavalkya–Janaka
त्वं हि ज्ञाननिधिरवविप्रैरुच्यसे वेदपारगै: । ऋषिभिश्न महाभागैर्यतिभिश्न महात्मभि:,वेदोंके पारंगत विद्वान् ब्राह्मण, महाभाग महर्षि तथा महात्मा यति भी आपको ज्ञाननिधि कहते हैं
tvaṁ hi jñānanidhir avaviprair ucyase vedapāragaiḥ | ṛṣibhiś ca mahābhāgair yatibhiś ca mahātmabhiḥ ||
Yudhishthira berkata: “Sesungguhnya engkau digelar khazanah ilmu oleh para brāhmaṇa terpelajar yang telah menyeberang ke tebing jauh Veda, dan juga oleh para resi yang mulia serta para pertapa yang berjiwa agung. Kebijaksanaanmu diakui oleh mereka yang paling layak menilainya.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
True authority in matters of dharma and conduct is grounded in recognized learning and realized wisdom; the verse establishes the addressee’s credibility by citing the testimony of Veda-knowers, sages, and renunciants.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a revered teacher/elder and begins by honoring him as a ‘treasury of knowledge,’ noting that the most learned brāhmaṇas, sages, and ascetics all acknowledge his mastery—setting the stage for instruction on dharma.