Upanishads · Mahā 2.14
॥
Devanāgarī
एकदा सोऽमलप्रज्ञो मेरावेकान्तसंस्थितः पप्रच्छ पितरं भक्त्या कृष्णद्वैपायनं मुनिम्
Transliteration (IAST)
ekadā so'malaprajño merāvekāntasaṃsthitaḥ papraccha pitaraṃ bhaktyā kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaṃ munim
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
एकदा सः अमल-प्रज्ञःekadā saḥ amala-prajñaḥonce he, of stainless insight; one day he, faultless in understanding
मेरौ एकान्त-संस्थितःmerau ekānta-saṃsthitaḥon Meru, settled in solitude; established in seclusion upon Meru
पप्रच्छ पितरम् भक्त्याpapraccha pitaram bhaktyāasked his father with devotion; questioned his parent with reverence
कृष्ण-द्वैपायनम् मुनिम्kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyanam munimthe sage Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana; the silent one, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana
Translation
Once, abiding in solitude on Meru, he of stainless insight asked with devotion his father — the sage Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana.
Version
6b99a9237f5d · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana is Vyāsa, the compiler of the Vedas and the Mahābhārata, Śuka's father.
The verse deserves note for one reason: the word bhaktyā, “with devotion”. He who knows everything by himself asks — and asks with reverence.
This is no everyday politeness. It will presently appear that Śuka did not believe his father's answer (2.17), and still he asked him as is fitting.
Note the place too: Meru, in solitude. Śuka already lives as a recluse. He is no worldling to whom the rudiments must be explained.
The question of such a man is the most serious kind of question there is. It is not asked out of ignorance.