Shloka 17
Nāga-āyatana-darśana-pratīkṣā — The Brāhmaṇa’s Request and Waiting on the Gomatī
सर्वाश्रमाभिगमन सर्वतीर्थावगाहनम् । न तथा फलदं चापि नारायणकथा यथा
sarvāśramābhigamanaṁ sarvatīrthāvagāhanam | na tathā phaladaṁ cāpi nārāyaṇakathā yathā ||
জনমেজয়ে ক’লে— সকলো আশ্ৰমলৈ গমন আৰু সকলো তীৰ্থত স্নান কৰিলেও, নাৰায়ণ-কথাই যি ফল দিয়ে, তেনে ফল নেদিয়ে।
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that devotion expressed through hearing and recounting Nārāyaṇa’s sacred narrative yields greater spiritual fruit than extensive external rites such as touring all āśramas and bathing at all tīrthas; inner orientation and God-centered remembrance are presented as superior.
In the Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, Janamejaya speaks in praise of Nārāyaṇa-kathā, contrasting it with the traditional merit of pilgrimages and ritual baths, thereby emphasizing the exceptional efficacy of sacred discourse about the Lord.