Shloka 5
Adhyāya 302: Guṇa-vicāra, Gati-bheda, and the Imperishable State
Yājñavalkya–Janaka
त्वयि प्रतिगते श्रेय: कुत: श्रोष्यामहे वयम् । कुरुवंशप्रदीपस्त्व॑ ज्ञानदीपेन दीप्यसे,आपके चले जानेपर हमलोग अपने कल्याणकी बातें किससे सुनेंगे? आप कुरुवंशको प्रकाशित करनेवाले प्रदीप हैं और ज्ञानदीपसे उद्भासित हो रहे हैं
tvayi pratigate śreyaḥ kutaḥ śroṣyāmahe vayam | kuruvaṁśapradīpas tvaṁ jñānadīpena dīpyase ||
Yudhiṣṭhira disse: “Quando tiveres partido, de quem ouviremos aquilo que conduz ao nosso bem supremo? Tu és a lâmpada que ilumina a linhagem dos Kuru, e resplandeces com a lâmpada do verdadeiro conhecimento.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the necessity of wise guidance for attaining śreyaḥ (the highest good). It presents the ideal elder/teacher as a ‘lamp’ whose knowledge illuminates both individuals and the wider community or lineage.
In Śānti Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses the revered elder (contextually, Bhīṣma) with anxiety about his impending departure, expressing that without him they will lose access to teachings on welfare and dharma, and praising him as the illuminator of the Kuru line through wisdom.