Shloka 8
Vyaktāvyakta-Viveka and Nivṛtti as Paramā Gati
Manifest–Unmanifest Discrimination and the Supreme Path of Withdrawal
गुरुउ्वाच शृणु शिष्य महाप्राज्ञ ब्रह्मगुह्ममिदं परम् । अध्यात्मं सर्वविद्यानामागमानां च यद्धसु
guruḥ uvāca: śṛṇu śiṣya mahāprājña brahma-guhyam idaṁ param | adhyātmaṁ sarva-vidyānām āgamānāṁ ca yad dhruvam || atha yad-yad yadā bhāti kāla-yogād yugādiṣu | tat-tad utpadyate jñānaṁ loka-yātrā-vidhāna-jam ||
Sinabi ng guro: “Makinig ka, O alagad na may dakilang pag-unawa. Ang itinatanong mo ay ang pinakamataas at lihim na hiwaga ng Brahman. Ito ang simulain ng panloob na Sarili (adhyātma), ang matatag na ubod ng lahat ng kaalaman at ng mga banal na tradisyon. At anumang lumilitaw sa alinmang panahon—sa pagsasanib ng panahon, sa pasimula ng mga yugto—ang kaalamang angkop doon ay muling sumisibol nang paulit-ulit, na isinilang mula sa kaayusan ng pag-inog ng daigdig at sa pangangailangan ng pamumuhay ng mga nilalang.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse identifies adhyātma—knowledge of the inner Self—as the supreme, hidden essence of Brahman and as the stable core of all learning and scriptural traditions. It also teaches a cyclical view of history: as time turns and new ages begin, appropriate forms of knowledge re-manifest to sustain the world’s ongoing order (loka-yātrā).
A teacher addresses a highly intelligent disciple and begins an esoteric instruction. He frames the disciple’s question as touching the deepest Brahman-secret and then explains that knowledge appears in different ages according to the operation of time and the requirements of maintaining worldly life and order.