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Shloka 13

Aśoka-śāstra: Nārada’s Instruction on the Cessation of Śoka

Grief

ऊर्णनाभेर्यथा चक्र छिद्रें सोम॑ं प्रपश्यति

ūrṇanābher yathā cakra-chidre somaṃ prapaśyati

Yājñavalkya nói: “Như con nhện nhìn qua lỗ ở tâm mạng tơ mà thấy vầng trăng, người có phân biệt cũng vậy: nhờ một ‘khe mở’ vi tế—một điểm tuệ giác đã được gọt giũa—mà nhận ra thực tại tối thượng xuyên qua những kết cấu đan dệt của thế gian.”

ūrṇanābheḥof the spider
ūrṇanābheḥ:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootūrṇanābhi
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
yathāas/just as
yathā:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyathā
cakrawheel/circle (web-like circle)
cakra:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootcakra
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
chidrein the hole/opening
chidre:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootchidra
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
somamthe moon (Soma)
somam:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootsoma
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
prapaśyatisees/beholds
prapaśyati:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootpra√paś (paś)
FormPresent, Third, Singular

याज्ञवल्क्य उवाच

याज्ञवल्क्य (Yājñavalkya)
ऊर्णनाभि (spider)
सोम (the Moon/Soma)

Educational Q&A

True understanding is not gained by grasping the whole ‘web’ of appearances, but by cultivating a subtle, focused insight—through which one can directly perceive the higher truth beyond worldly constructions.

In Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, Yājñavalkya instructs through a vivid analogy: the spider and its web illustrate how the mind’s structures can both obscure and, when rightly ‘opened’ by discernment, become a means to perceive what is otherwise distant or hidden.