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Shloka 107

Atithi-satkāra and the Consolation of Wise Counsel (अतिथिसत्कारः प्रज्ञानवचनस्य च पराश्वासनम्)

नरनारायणो पूर्व तपस्तेपतुरव्ययम्‌,पहले नर और नारायणने जब धर्ममय रथपर आरूढ़ हो गन्धमादन पर्वतपर अक्षय तप किया था, उसी समय प्रजापति दक्षका यज्ञ आरम्भ हुआ

nara-nārāyaṇau pūrvaṁ tapas tepatūr avyayam | yadā dharma-maye rathe samārūḍhau gandhamādana-parvate 'kṣayaṁ tapaḥ cakratuḥ, tadā prajāpateḥ dakṣasya yajña ārabdhaḥ ||

In früherer Zeit vollzogen Nara und Nārāyaṇa unvergängliche Askesen (tapas). Als jene beiden, auf einem auf Dharma gegründeten Wagen, auf dem Berge Gandhamādana unerschöpfliche Buße übten, setzte eben zu dieser Stunde das Opfer (yajña) des Prajāpati Dakṣa ein. Die Stelle stellt tapas (Selbstzucht) und yajña (heilige Pflicht) als parallele, welttragende Handlungen dar und verknüpft persönliche geistige Zügelung mit der ethischen Ordnung, die durch rituelle Verantwortung bewahrt wird.

नरनारायणःNara-and-Narayana (as a single entity)
नरनारायणः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनरनारायण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पूर्वम्formerly, earlier
पूर्वम्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपूर्व
तपःausterity, penance
तपः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootतपस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
तेपतुःthey two performed (austerity)
तेपतुः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootतप्
FormPerfect (Paroksha), Third, Dual, Parasmaipada
अव्ययम्imperishable, undecaying
अव्ययम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअव्यय
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular

तामिन्द्र उवाच गच्छ नहुषस्त्वया वाच्योथ<पूर्वेण मामृषियुक्तेन यानेन त्वमधिरूढ

N
Nara
N
Nārāyaṇa
G
Gandhamādana Parvata
P
Prajāpati Dakṣa
Y
Yajña
D
Dharma-maya Ratha

Educational Q&A

The verse juxtaposes two pillars of dharma: inner discipline (tapas) and outward sacred responsibility (yajña). By synchronizing Nara–Nārāyaṇa’s austerities with Dakṣa’s sacrifice, it suggests that both ascetic restraint and properly ordered ritual action uphold the moral and cosmic order.

The text recalls an ancient moment: Nara and Nārāyaṇa perform inexhaustible penance on Mount Gandhamādana while mounted on a dharma-based chariot, and simultaneously Prajāpati Dakṣa begins his great sacrifice. The narration sets a mythic backdrop connecting renowned tapas with a major yajña event.