Shloka 1

अव्यक्तकालमान-निर्णयः

Measures of Time from the Unmanifest; Creation, Elements, and the Primacy of Mind

Devanagari script

युधिष्ठिरने पूछा--पितामह! संसारमें बहुत-से विद्वान्‌ सत्य

Transliteration

Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca |

Sāṅkhye yoge ca me tāta viśeṣaṃ vaktum arhasi |

Tava dharmajña sarvaṃ hi viditaṃ Kurusattama ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira thưa: “Bạch Pitāmaha, xin Người giảng cho con sự sai biệt giữa Sāṅkhya và Yoga. Người là bậc thông tỏ dharma, mọi điều đều thấu suốt—hỡi bậc tối thượng trong dòng Kuru.”

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhishthira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सांख्ये: in Sāṅkhya (doctrine/path)
• सांख्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सांख्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• योगे: in Yoga (path)
• योगे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• मे: my / for me
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• तात: O dear father/sir (term of address)
• तात: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• विशेषम्: the distinction, difference
• विशेषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वक्तुम्: to tell, to explain
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Tumun (infinitive)

• अर्हसि: you are able/fit; you should
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: Present, 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तव: your
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• धर्मज्ञ: O knower of dharma
• धर्मज्ञ: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• हि: indeed, for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• विदितम्: known
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विदित
• Form: Past passive participle (kta), Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• कुरुसत्तम: O best of the Kurus
• कुरुसत्तम: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुसत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Bhīṣma (implied by the address 'tāta' and 'Kurusattama')
• Kuru lineage (Kuru)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a philosophical inquiry: Yudhiṣṭhira seeks a clear distinction between two liberation-oriented paths—Sāṅkhya (discernment/knowledge) and Yoga (disciplined practice). It emphasizes that ethical and spiritual clarity comes through competent instruction from a dharma-knower.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s Mokṣadharma section, Yudhiṣṭhira continues his post-war questioning of Bhīṣma. Here he respectfully requests Bhīṣma to explain how Sāṅkhya and Yoga differ, setting up a teaching on their methods, aims, and practical implications.