Shloka 8
Brahma-vidyā: Satya–Tapas and the Enumeration of Tattvas
Arjuna–Vāsudeva framed dialogue
केन जीवन्ति भूतानि तेषामायुश्च कि परम् । शरज कि सत्यं कि तपो विप्र के गुणा: सद्धिरीरिता:
śiṣya uvāca | kena jīvanti bhūtāni teṣām āyuś ca ki param | śaraḥ ki satyaṃ ki tapo vipra ke guṇāḥ sādubhir īritāḥ || vipravara |
弟子曰：“婆罗门啊，众生以何而维持其命？其寿命之极限为何？何为真实（satya），何为苦行（tapas）？诸贤所称赞之德又有哪些？婆罗门中之最胜者，请为我宣说。”
शिष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharma-inquiry: the disciple seeks foundational principles—what supports life, the limits of lifespan, the meanings of satya (truthfulness) and tapas (austerity), and the virtues endorsed by the righteous—so that ethical living can be grounded in clear definitions.
In a teacher–disciple setting within the Ashvamedhika Parva, the student respectfully questions a learned brāhmaṇa, requesting instruction on life’s sustaining factors and the moral-spiritual standards upheld by good people.