Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 46
भीष्मस्योत्तरायणप्रतीक्षा तथा युधिष्ठिरागमनम् | Bhīṣma’s uttarāyaṇa moment and Yudhiṣṭhira’s arrival
दिवि श्रेष्ठो हि भगवान् हरिनारायण: प्रभु: । वन्दितो हि स वन्देत मानितो मानयीत च । अहहितश्चाहयेन्नित्यं पूजित: प्रतिपूजयेत्
divi śreṣṭho hi bhagavān harinārāyaṇaḥ prabhuḥ | vandito hi sa vandeta mānito mānayīta ca | ahahitaś cāhayen nityaṃ pūjitaḥ pratipūjayet |
In heaven, the Lord Hari-Nārāyaṇa is supreme. Whoever offers Him reverence, He in turn honors; whoever shows Him respect, He reciprocates with respect. Whoever is well-disposed toward Him, He remains ever kindly disposed toward; and when He is worshipped, He responds with worshipful favor in return—thus He answers devotion with corresponding grace.
ईश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches reciprocity in devotion: honoring, praising, and worshipping the Lord is met with corresponding divine favor and regard. It frames bhakti as a relationship in which sincere reverence draws a responsive grace.
Īśvara (the Lord) speaks, declaring Hari-Nārāyaṇa’s supremacy and describing how the Lord responds to human acts of reverence—praise, respect, and worship—by returning honor and benevolence to the devotee.