Shloka 106
धर्मस्य बहुद्वारत्वम् — Nārada’s Audience with Indra (Śānti-parva 340)
वाग्यत: प्रणतो भूत्वा ववन्दे परमेश्वरम् । उनका दर्शन करनेके पश्चात् प्रसन्नचित्त हुए द्विजश्रेष्ठ नारदने मौनभावसे नतमस्तक हो उन प्रसन्न हुए परमेश्वरकी वन्दना की,अकिक्रान्ता: पुराणेषु श्रुतास्ते यदि वा क्वचित् | अकिक्रान्ताश्व॒ बहव: प्रादुर्भावा ममोत्तमा: मेरे जो अवतार अबतक व्यतीत हो चुके हैं, उन्हें सम्भवतः तुमने पुराणोंमें सुना होगा। मेरे कई उत्तमोत्तम अवतार हो चुके हैं
vāgyataḥ praṇato bhūtvā vavande parameśvaram | atikrāntāḥ purāṇeṣu śrutās te yadi vā kvacit | atikrāntāś ca bahavaḥ prādurbhāvā mamottamāḥ ||
Bhishma sprach: „Mit gezügelter Rede und in ehrfürchtiger Demut verneigte er sich und pries den höchsten Herrn. ‚Von jenen Erscheinungen meiner selbst, die bereits vergangen sind, hast du vielleicht irgendwo in den Purāṇas gehört; wahrlich, viele erhabene göttliche Offenbarungen meiner selbst sind schon geschehen.‘“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights devotional discipline: restraining speech, bowing with humility, and honoring the Supreme. It also affirms that divine manifestations are many and are preserved in sacred tradition (the Purāṇas), encouraging reverent learning through śruti—what is received by hearing.
In Bhishma’s narration, a revered figure approaches the Supreme Lord with silent, respectful prostration and offers praise. The Lord then refers to His past manifestations, noting that they may be known from Purāṇic accounts and that many excellent appearances have already occurred.