Shloka 8
Nara-Nārāyaṇa Precedent and Bhīṣma’s Counsel on Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna; Karṇa’s Reply
नरनारायणावेतौ लोकाल्लोकं समास्थितौ । ऊर्जितौ स्वेन तपसा महासत्त्वपराक्रमौ
naranārāyaṇāv etau lokāl lokaṃ samāsthitau | ūrjitau svena tapasā mahāsattvaparākramau ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Diese beiden — Nara und Nārāyaṇa — sind von Welt zu Welt hinübergegangen und haben sich über die gewöhnliche Reichweite der Wesen hinaus erhoben. Durch ihre eigene Askese gestärkt, leuchten sie in gewaltiger geistiger Macht und heldischer Kraft. Durch die Kraft ihres Tapas sind sie aus dem irdischen Bereich in die Welt Brahmās aufgestiegen, strahlend von innerem Feuer und Glanz.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights tapas (disciplined austerity) as a transformative spiritual force: inner restraint and sustained practice generate tejas (radiance) and elevate one’s state of being, symbolized by moving from one loka to a higher loka.
Vaiśampāyana describes the extraordinary stature of the twin sages Nara and Nārāyaṇa: empowered by their own austerities, they transcend ordinary realms and are portrayed as reaching a higher world (understood in context as Brahmaloka), shining with great spiritual and heroic potency.