Verse 2.1.33-34

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.1.33-34:

श्रुति-स्मृतीनां वाक्यानि साक्षात्-तात्पर्यतोऽप्य् अहम् ।
व्याख्याय बोधयित्वैतत् त्वां सन्तोषयितुं क्षमः ॥ ३३ ॥
तथापि स्व-गुरोः प्राप्तं प्रसादात् संशय-च्छिदम् ।
अत्रेतिहासम् आदौ ते व्यक्तार्थं कथयाम्य् अमुम् ॥ ३४ ॥

śruti-smṛtīnāṃ vākyāni sākṣāt-tātparyato'py aham |
vyākhyāya bodhayitvaitat tvāṃ santoṣayituṃ kṣamaḥ || 33 ||
tathāpi sva-guroḥ prāptaṃ prasādāt saṃśaya-cchidam |
atretihāsam ādau te vyaktārthaṃ kathayāmy amum || 34 ||

śruti–statements directly heard from Śrī Bhagavān’s mouth; smṛtīnām–of words by realized sages in remembrance of Him; vākyāni–the words; sākṣāt-tātparyataḥ–from the direct and primary meanings; api–also; aham–I; vyākhyāya–in order to illuminate; bodhayitvā–having first understood; etat–this; tvām–you; santoṣayitum–fully satisfy; kṣamaḥ–am able; tathā api–however; sva-guroḥ–from my guru, Śrī Śukadeva; prāptam–attained; prasādāt–by the mercy; saṃśayachidam–which eradicates doubts; atra–here; itihāsam–famous history; ādau–at first; te–your; vyakta-artham–for the clarification; kathayāmi–I shall speak; amum–this.

In replying to your questions, I can delight you by explaining the essence of Śruti and Smṛti scriptures, and by citing their direct meanings (mukhya-vṛtti) and purports and annotations (tātparyavṛtti). First, however, I want to describe a very famous history that I came to know through the mercy of my guru, Śrī Śukadeva, for it destroys all doubts and is unequivocal in meaning. After that, I will quote from the Śruti and Smṛti.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

(By Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)

Śrī Parīkṣit says, “I am confident that I can satisfy you by replying to your questions in two ways: I can explain the Vedic literature (Śruti) and the supplements to the Vedas (Smṛti) based on their direct and primary meanings, known as mukhya-vṛtti. In other words, I can explain these scriptures based on their literal meanings, as they were heard. And in places, I can explain their purports, or tātparyavṛtti, by revealing commentaries that have been ascertained by disciplic succession, or guru-paramparā, and garnered by experience. However, I will initiate my reply by describing a most illustrious history that I have received by the mercy of my guru, Śrī Śukadeva.”

Śrī Uttarā may ask, “What is the nature of that history?” In response Śrī Parīkṣit says, “This history is able to destroy all doubts and establish the clear and unambiguous meanings of the words of Śruti and Smṛti.” Alternatively, the word ādau in this verse is an adverb, and so the verse can be read, “First, I am describing the history I received by the mercy of my guru, and thereafter I will describe other subject matters.”