Shloka 29
नारद–शुक संवादः
Impermanence, Svabhāva, and Śuka’s Resolve for Yoga
ज्ञान ज्ञेयं तथा ज्ञो$ज्ञ: कस्तपा अतपास्तथा | सूर्याति सूर्य इति च विद्याविद्ये तथैव च
jñānaṃ jñeyaṃ tathā jño ’jñaḥ kas tapā atapās tathā | sūryāti-sūrya iti ca vidyāvidye tathaiva ca ||
याज्ञवल्क्य उवाच— “(भवान् पृच्छति) किं ज्ञानम्? किं ज्ञेयम्? कः ज्ञाता? कश्चाज्ञः? कस्तपस्वी? कश्चातपस्वी? कः सूर्यः? कश्चातिसूर्यः? तथा विद्या किम्? अविद्या च किम्?”
याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a systematic set of philosophical distinctions—knowledge/knowable, knower/ignorant, true austerity/false austerity, and vidyā/avidyā—implying that ethical and spiritual progress depends on correct discernment of these categories.
Yājñavalkya is responding in a didactic setting within Śānti Parva, restating a sequence of questions that guide the forthcoming explanation of metaphysical and ethical fundamentals.