Shloka 2636
नारद–शुक संवादः
Impermanence, Svabhāva, and Śuka’s Resolve for Yoga
विश्वावसुस्ततो राजन् वेदान्तज्ञानकोविद: । राजन्! एक समय वेदान्तज्ञानमें कुशल विश्वावसु नामक गन्धर्व मेरे पास आया एवं इस बातका विचार करते हुए कि यहाँ ब्राह्मण-जातिके लिये हितकर क्या है? सत्य और सर्वोत्तम ज्ञातव्य वस्तु क्या है? मुझसे पूछने लगा
Viśvāvasus tato rājan vedāntajñānakovidaḥ | rājan! eka samaye vedāntajñāne kuśalaḥ Viśvāvasu-nāmā gandharvaḥ mama pāśam āgāt, etad vicārayan—iha brāhmaṇa-jāteḥ hitakaraṃ kiṃ syāt? satyaṃ ca sarvottamaṃ jñātavya-vastu kiṃ?—iti mām apṛcchat.
ଯାଜ୍ଞବଲ୍କ୍ୟ କହିଲେ—ହେ ରାଜନ୍! ତାପରେ ବେଦାନ୍ତଜ୍ଞାନରେ ପାରଙ୍ଗତ ବିଶ୍ୱାବସୁ ନାମକ ଗନ୍ଧର୍ବ ମୋ ପାଖକୁ ଆସିଲା। ‘ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ-ସମୁଦାୟ ପାଇଁ ସତ୍ୟସାର ହିତ କ’ଣ? ଏବଂ ସତ୍ୟ ଓ ପରମ ଜ୍ଞେୟ ବସ୍ତୁ କ’ଣ?’—ଏହି ଚିନ୍ତା କରି ସେ ମୋତେ ପଚାରିଲା।
याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the ethical-intellectual problem that will guide the teaching: discerning what truly benefits the Brahmin community and identifying the real, supreme object of knowledge (satya and the highest jñātavya). It establishes Vedāntic inquiry as a dharmic pursuit aimed at welfare and ultimate truth.
Yājñavalkya recounts to the King that a Gandharva named Viśvāvasu, renowned for Vedānta-knowledge, once came to him. After reflecting on communal welfare and ultimate truth, Viśvāvasu approaches Yājñavalkya and asks him these questions, initiating a doctrinal conversation.