Shloka 8

Śukasya Janma-yoga-phalaṁ — Vyāsasya Tapasā Putrārthaḥ (Śānti-parva 310)

Devanagari script

याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच श्रूयतामवनीपाल यदेतदनुपृच्छसि । योगानां परमं ज्ञानं सांख्यानां च विशेषत:,याज्ञवल्क्थजीने कहा--भूपाल! सुनो, तुम जो कुछ पूछते हो, वह योग और विशेषत: सांख्यका परम रहस्यमय ज्ञान तुम्हें बताता हूँ

Transliteration

Yājñavalkya uvāca: śrūyatām avanīpāla yad etad anupṛcchasi | yogānāṃ paramaṃ jñānaṃ sāṅkhyānāṃ ca viśeṣataḥ ||

Translation

耶若阇那伐尔迦说道：“大王，请听。你所问者，乃瑜伽之至上智慧；尤以数论（Sāṅkhya）之独特最高洞见为甚。我将为你阐明。”

Word by Word

याज्ञवल्क्यःYajnavalkya

उवाचsaid

श्रूयताम्let it be heard / please listen

अवनीपालO king (protector of the earth)

यत्which / what

एतत्this

अनुपृच्छसिyou ask (further) / you inquire

योगानाम्of yogas / of yoga (systems)

परमम्supreme

ज्ञानम्knowledge

सांख्यानाम्of the Sankhyas / of Sankhya (doctrines)

चand

विशेषतःespecially / in particular

Speaker

याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yājñavalkya

avanīpāla (the king addressed)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames the forthcoming instruction as the highest liberating knowledge, presenting Yoga and especially Sāṅkhya as profound paths of insight; it signals a shift from mere discussion to authoritative spiritual exposition aimed at mokṣa.

What is happening in the narrative?

A king has asked a detailed question about Yoga and Sāṅkhya. The sage Yājñavalkya responds by requesting attentive listening and announces that he will explain the supreme doctrine the king seeks.