Shloka 21
Nārāyaṇopadeśa to Mārkaṇḍeya (Cosmic Self-Identification and Yuga Doctrine) | नारायणोपदेशः
ताक्ष्य उवाच क्षेत्रज्ञभूतां पपलोकभावे कर्मोदये बुद्धिमतिप्रविष्टाम् । प्रज्ञां च देवीं सुभगे विमृश्य पृच्छामि त्वां का हसि चारुरूपे
tākṣya uvāca kṣetrajñabhūtāṃ paplokabhāve karmodaye buddhimatipraviṣṭām | prajñāṃ ca devīṃ subhage vimṛśya pṛcchāmi tvāṃ kā hasi cārurūpe ||
Tākṣya disse: “Tendo refletido sobre ti—que apareces como o próprio ‘conhecedor do campo’ (a testemunha interior), presente no desdobrar do karma e penetrada na inteligência discernente—e tendo-te considerado como a própria Sabedoria divina, ó afortunada, eu te pergunto, ó dama de bela forma: quem és tu?”
ताक्ष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a philosophical inquiry: true wisdom is recognized as the inner witness (kṣetrajña) operating through intelligence and amid the maturation of karma. Ethical life is implied to rest on discerning this deeper principle behind actions and their results.
Tākṣya addresses a beautiful, auspicious feminine presence identified with divine Wisdom. After contemplating her nature—as the inner knower and as the power present in the rise of karma—he asks directly who she is.