Shloka 90

Nāgendra–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda: Praśna-vidhi and Dharmic Approach on the Gomatī Riverbank

Devanagari script

तत्त्वं जिज्ञासमानानां हेतुभि: सर्वतोमुखै:

Transliteration

tattvaṃ jijñāsamānānāṃ hetubhiḥ sarvatomukhaiḥ

Translation

Sinabi ni Vaiśaṃpāyana: “Para sa mga naghahangad makaalam ng tattva (tunay na prinsipyo), may mga dahilan at paraan ng pagsisiyasat na lumalapit dito mula sa lahat ng panig.”

Word by Word

• तत्त्वम्: the truth / reality
• तत्त्वम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• जिज्ञासमानानाम्: of those who are desiring to know / inquiring
• जिज्ञासमानानाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जिज्ञासमान (from धातु √ज्ञा with desiderative जिज्ञासा + वर्तमान कृदन्त -मान)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• हेतुभिः: by means of reasons / causes
• हेतुभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सर्वतोमुखैः: with all-sided (many-faced) [arguments/means]
• सर्वतोमुखैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वतोमुख
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

वैशग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that genuine seekers of truth can approach reality through multiple rational avenues—reasoned inquiry is not one-dimensional, and understanding may be reached by examining causes and arguments from many perspectives.

What is happening in the narrative?

Within the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Vaiśaṃpāyana continues a philosophical exposition, introducing or supporting a discussion on how truth is investigated—by offering the idea that inquiry proceeds through diverse, all-sided reasoning.