Shloka 1
Nārāyaṇasya Guhya-nāmāni Niruktāni (Etymologies of Nārāyaṇa’s Secret Epithets) / नारायणस्य गुह्यनामानि निरुक्तानि
एकोनत्रिशर्दाधिकत्रिशततमो< ध्याय: शुकदेवजीको नारदजीका वैराग्य और ज्ञानका उपदेश भीष्म उवाच एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शून्ये नारद: समुपागमत् | शुकं स्वाध्यायनिरतं वेदार्थान् वक्तुमीप्सितान्
bhīṣma uvāca | etasminn antare śūnye nāradaḥ samupāgamat | śukaṃ svādhyāya-nirataṃ vedārthān vaktum īpsitān |
毗湿摩曰：其时，茅庵寂然空寥，天仙圣者那罗陀来至。他趋近专志自习（svādhyāya）之舒迦，欲令其宣说那罗陀所愿聆听之吠陀义理——由此铺陈出关于智慧与离欲之教诲。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the ethical-spiritual setting for instruction: true understanding of dharma is supported by svādhyāya (disciplined study), and the pursuit of vedārtha (Vedic meaning) is linked with jñāna (insight) and vairāgya (detachment).
After Vyasa has departed, the hermitage becomes quiet; Narada arrives and approaches Shuka—who is absorbed in self-study—seeking an exposition of the Vedas’ meanings, initiating a teaching dialogue.