Shloka 10
Adhyāya 302: Guṇa-vicāra, Gati-bheda, and the Imperishable State
Yājñavalkya–Janaka
स्वक्षरं प्रश्मितं वाक््यं मधुरं चाप्यनुल्बणम् | पप्रच्छर्षिवरं राजा करालजनक: पुरा
svakṣaraṁ praśmitaṁ vākyaṁ madhuraṁ cāpy anulbaṇam | papracchārṣivaraṁ rājā karālajanakaḥ purā ||
毗湿摩说：久远以前，号称“迦罗罗”的阇那迦王走近一位卓越的仙人，合掌而问；其辞句端正，语气含微笑之和悦，甘美而谦抑，既无粗厉，亦无好辩挑剔之论。此一场景立下伦理之范：求问灵性之道，当以礼敬、明晰与克制为本，以尊师重道，并敬重自我之学的主题。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic etiquette in spiritual inquiry: one should approach the wise with humility and ask using well-chosen, gentle, sweet, and restrained words—avoiding harshness, excess, and argumentative speech.
Bhishma recalls an earlier episode in which King Janaka (called Karāla) goes to a great sage and poses a question respectfully, setting the stage for an instruction on adhyātma (spiritual knowledge).