(वाचक्नवीब्राह्मणं, अक्षरब्राह्मणं वा सृष्टिप्रवेशब्राह्मणम्) अथ ह वाचक्नव्युवाच ब्राह्मणा भगवन्तो हन्ताहमिमं द्वौ प्रश्नौ प्रक्ष्यामि ।तौ चेन्मे विवक्ष्यति ।न वै जातु युष्माकमिमं कश्चिद्ब्रह्मोद्यं जेतेति ।पृच्छ गार्गीति ॥बृह. ३,८.१ ॥
In plain words
Then Vācaknavī said, "Reverend brahmins, I shall ask him two questions. If he answers them for me, then not one of you will ever overcome him in this debate about Brahman." "Ask, Gārgī."
The commentators
Bṛhadāraṇyakopaniṣadbhāṣyam
अतः परम् अशनायादिविनिर्मुक्तं निरुपाधिकं साक्षादपरोक्षात्सर्वान्तरं ब्रह्म वक्तव्यमित्यत आरम्भः—
अथ ह वाचक्नव्युवाच । पूर्वं याज्ञवल्क्येन निषिद्धा मूर्धपातभयादुपरता सती पुनः प्रष्टुं ब्राह्मणानुज्ञां प्रार्थयते हे ब्राह्मणाः भगवन्तः पूजावन्तः शृणुत मम वचः ; हन्त अहमिमं याज्ञवल्क्यं पुनर्द्वौ प्रश्नौ प्रक्ष्यामि, यद्यनुमतिर्भवतामस्ति ; तौ प्रश्नौ चेन् यदि वक्ष्यति कथयिष्यति मे, कथंचित् न वै जातु कदाचित्, युष्माकं मध्ये इमं याज्ञवल्क्यं कश्चित् ब्रह्मोद्यं ब्रह्मवदनं प्रति जेता—न वै कश्चित् भवेत्—इति । एवमुक्ता ब्राह्मणा अनुज्ञां प्रददुः—पृच्छ गार्गीति ॥
In plain words
There is still more to say. Beyond everything taught so far stands a higher Brahman -- entirely free of hunger, thirst, and every such want, carrying no conditions at all, known directly rather than at second hand, the innermost reality inside everything. That is what the next passage takes up.
'Then Vācaknavī spoke' -- here is the story behind that single line. Yājñavalkya had already silenced her once, warning that her head would fall if she kept pressing him, and she had gone quiet out of that fear. Now she wants another turn, so she first asks the room for leave. 'Honored teachers,' she says, 'hear me out. I want to question this man again -- two questions -- if you're willing. If he can answer them for me, somehow, then truly, none of you will ever out-argue this man on the nature of Brahman. Not one of you could.' Hearing that, the Brāhmaṇas give their blessing: 'Go ahead, Gārgī.'
Close to the Sanskrit
Beyond this, there is a higher Brahman -- completely free of hunger and the rest, without any limiting condition, known directly and not indirectly, the innermost reality of all -- yet to be spoken of; for this reason, the following passage begins.
'Then Vācaknavī spoke': having previously been forbidden by Yājñavalkya, and having desisted out of fear of her head falling off, she -- now again -- requests the Brāhmaṇas' permission to ask: 'O Brāhmaṇas, venerable and honored ones, hear my word. Come, I shall ask this Yājñavalkya two questions again, if your consent exists. If he answers -- tells -- me those two questions, somehow, then truly never, ever, among you, will anyone here be able to defeat this Yājñavalkya in a discourse on Brahman -- no one at all could be such a victor.' Thus addressed, the Brāhmaṇas granted permission: 'Ask, Gārgī.'