Shloka 9

Adhyāya 302: Guṇa-vicāra, Gati-bheda, and the Imperishable State

Yājñavalkya–Janaka

Devanagari script

परमध्यात्मकुशलम ध्यात्मगतिनिश्चयम्‌ । मैत्रावरुणिमासीनमभिवाद्य कृताउ्जलि:

Transliteration

paramādhyātma-kuśalam adhyātma-gati-niścayam | maitrāvaruṇim āsīnam abhivādya kṛtāñjaliḥ ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ— ମିତ୍ର ଓ ବରୁଣଙ୍କ ପୁତ୍ର ବସିଷ୍ଠ ଆତ୍ମବିଦ୍ୟାରେ ପରମ ନିପୁଣ ଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ଆତ୍ମାର ପରମ ଗତି ବିଷୟରେ ଦୃଢ଼ ନିଶ୍ଚୟରେ ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠିତ ଥିଲେ। ସେ ଆସନରେ ଉପବିଷ୍ଟ ଥିବାବେଳେ, ପୂର୍ବକାଳରେ ‘କରାଳ’ ନାମେ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ଜନକ ରାଜା ତାଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ ଯାଇ, କରଯୋଡ଼ି ପ୍ରଣାମ କରି, କୁତର୍କବର୍ଜିତ ବିନୟମୟ ମଧୁର ବାଣୀରେ ଏପରି ପଚାରିଲେ—

Word by Word

• परम: supreme, highest
• परम: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अध्यात्म-कुशलम्: skilled in spiritual knowledge
• अध्यात्म-कुशलम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अध्यात्मकुशल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अध्यात्म-गति-निश्चयम्: certainty/conviction about the course of spirituality
• अध्यात्म-गति-निश्चयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्यात्मगतिनिश्चय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मैत्रावरुणिम्: Maitrāvaruṇi (Vasiṣṭha)
• मैत्रावरुणिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रावरुणि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आसीनम्: seated
• आसीनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आसीन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभिवाद्य: having saluted
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+वद्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• कृत-अञ्जलिः: with hands joined (in reverence)
• कृत-अञ्जलिः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृताञ्जलि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇi)
• Mitra
• Varuṇa
• Janaka (Karāla)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames spiritual inquiry as grounded in adhyātma (Self-knowledge) and niścaya (firm conviction). It highlights that true instruction is sought from one established in inner certainty, and that the seeker should approach with humility, reverence, and a sincere, non-contentious attitude.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma introduces a traditional teaching episode: King Janaka approaches the sage Vasiṣṭha (called Maitrāvaruṇi) who is seated, salutes him with joined palms, and prepares to ask a respectful question in a sweet, courteous, and non-polemical manner.