Shloka 82
Nāgendra–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda: Praśna-vidhi and Dharmic Approach on the Gomatī Riverbank
नारायणपरं सत्यमृतं नारायणात्मकम् । नारायणपरो धर्म: पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभ:,सत्यके परम लक्ष्य नारायण ही हैं। ऋत नारायणका ही स्वरूप है। जिसके आचरणसे पुनर्जन्मकी प्राप्ति नहीं होती, उस निवृत्तिप्रधान धर्मके भी चरम लक्ष्य भगवान् नारायण ही हैं
Vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca: nārāyaṇaparaṃ satyam ṛtaṃ nārāyaṇātmakam | nārāyaṇaparo dharmaḥ punarāvṛttidurlabhaḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana sprach: Die Wahrheit hat ihren höchsten Grund in Nārāyaṇa; die kosmische Ordnung (ṛta) ist Nārāyaṇas eigene Natur. Selbst das Dharma der Entsagung, das die Rückkehr zur Wiedergeburt erschwert, hat Nārāyaṇa zum höchsten Ziel.
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the ultimate foundation and goal of truth (satya), cosmic order (ṛta), and even the liberating renunciant path (nivṛtti-dharma) is Nārāyaṇa. Ethical life and liberation are presented as culminating in orientation toward the Supreme.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-oriented setting, Vaiśaṃpāyana states a doctrinal summary: all highest principles—truth, cosmic order, and the dharma that leads beyond rebirth—are ultimately centered on Nārāyaṇa.