Shloka 17
शुकस्य मिथिलागमनम् (Śukasya Mithilāgamanam) — Śuka’s Journey to Mithilā and the Courtly Test
एषोप्ययस्ते राजेन्द्र यथावत् समुदाहत: । अध्यात्ममधिभूतं च अधिदैवं च श्रूयताम्
eṣo'py ayaṃ te rājendra yathāvat samudāhṛtaḥ | adhyātmam adhibhūtaṃ ca adhidaivaṃ ca śrūyatām ||
அரசேந்திரா! இவ்வாறு அழிவு-ஒழுங்கையும் நான் உனக்கு முறையாக எடுத்துரைத்தேன். இனி ஆத்யாத்மம், அதிபூதம், அதிதைவம் ஆகிய மூவகை விளக்கத்தையும் கேள்.
याज़्वल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The speaker transitions from a prior explanation to a structured teaching that interprets reality in three correlated domains: the inner self (adhyātma), the material/elemental world of beings (adhibhūta), and the divine or cosmic presiding order (adhidaiva).
Yājñavalkya addresses the king respectfully, stating that he has already explained a preceding topic in proper sequence, and now invites the king to listen to the next section—an exposition of adhyātma, adhibhūta, and adhidaiva.