Shloka 1
शुकस्य मिथिलागमनम् (Śukasya Mithilāgamanam) — Śuka’s Journey to Mithilā and the Courtly Test
अपन कराता बछ। अं क्ाजज द्वादर्शाधिकत्रिशततमो< ध्याय: संहारक्रमका वर्णन याज़्वल्क्य उवाच तत्त्वानां सर्वसंख्या च कालसंख्या तथैव च । मया प्रोक्ता5<नुपूर्व्येण संहारमपि मे शूणु
Yājñavalkya uvāca: tattvānāṁ sarva-saṅkhyā ca kāla-saṅkhyā tathaiva ca | mayā proktā anupūrvyena saṁhāram api me śṛṇu ||
Wika ni Yājñavalkya: “O Hari, ngayo’y makinig ka habang inilalahad ko—sunod-sunod—ang ganap na bilang ng mga pangunahing simulain (tattva), ang pagtutuos ng panahon, at ang salaysay kung paano ang mga simulain ay binabawi sa pagkalusaw. Dinggin mo ang aral na ito mula sa akin.”
याज़्वल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse introduces a structured exposition: the sage will explain (1) the full count of fundamental principles (tattvas), (2) the measure and hierarchy of time (kāla-saṅkhyā), and (3) the process of dissolution (saṁhāra) in which these principles are withdrawn—framing a cosmological and philosophical teaching meant to guide right understanding.
In the Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, the sage Yājñavalkya addresses a king and signals a transition into a systematic discourse. He asks the king to listen as he proceeds in order through enumerations and the doctrine of cosmic withdrawal, indicating that the next section will be technical and sequential.