Shloka 26
Śukasya Janma-yoga-phalaṁ — Vyāsasya Tapasā Putrārthaḥ (Śānti-parva 310)
अत ऊर्ध्व॑ महाराज गुणस्यैतस्य तत्त्वतः । महात्मभिरनुप्रोक्तां कालसंख्यां निबोध मे,महाराज! अब इसके बाद महात्मा पुरुषोंद्वारा बतायी गयी इस गुणमयी सृष्टिकी कालसंख्या भी मुझसे यथावत््रूपसे सुनो
ata ūrdhvaṁ mahārāja guṇasyaitasya tattvataḥ | mahātmabhir anuproktāṁ kālasaṅkhyāṁ nibodha me ||
如今，大王，你当从我这里依其真实义理，了知支配此由诸“德性”（guṇa）所成之世界的时间计算——正如诸位大心圣贤相承传授、详加阐明者。
याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The speaker signals a transition to a doctrinal exposition: the traditional, sage-taught ‘reckoning of time’ that structures guṇa-based creation is to be explained accurately (tattvataḥ). The emphasis is on faithful transmission and correct understanding of cosmological order.
Yājñavalkya addresses the king and announces the next topic in the instruction: after discussing the nature of the guṇas, he will now teach the cosmological chronology/time-measures as preserved by great sages.