जपयोगयोः तुल्यफलनिर्णयः
Adhyāya 193: Adjudication of the Comparable Fruits of Japa and Yoga
भरद्वाज उवाच अस्माल्लोकात् परो लोक: श्रूयते नोपलभ्यते । तमहं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तद् भवान् वक्तुमहति,भरद्वाजने पूछा--ब्रह्मन! इस लोकसे कोई श्रेष्ठ लोक सुना जाता है; किंतु वह देखनेमें नहीं आता। मैं उसे जानना चाहता हूँ, आप उसे बतानेकी कृपा करें
bharadvāja uvāca | asmāl lokāt paro lokaḥ śrūyate nopalabhyate | tam ahaṃ jñātum icchāmi tad bhavān vaktum arhati ||
بھاردواج نے کہا—اے برہمن! اس دنیا سے پرے ایک بلند تر دنیا کا ذکر تو سنا جاتا ہے، مگر وہ براہِ راست دکھائی نہیں دیتی۔ میں اسے جاننا چاہتا ہوں؛ مہربانی فرما کر آپ بیان کیجیے۔
भरद्वाज उवाच
The verse frames a classical dharmic inquiry: some truths (like the ‘higher world’ or paraloka) are known through reliable testimony and disciplined understanding rather than direct sensory perception. It legitimizes seeking guidance from a qualified teacher to bridge the gap between what is ‘heard’ (śrūyate) and what is ‘seen’ (upalabhyate).
In a teacher–student style exchange within the Śānti Parva, the sage Bharadvāja respectfully asks an authoritative speaker to explain the existence and nature of a higher realm beyond the visible world, since it is taught in tradition but not directly perceived.