Shloka 8
Viṣṇor Māhātmya and Indriya-saṃyama (विष्णोर्माहात्म्यं तथा इन्द्रियसंयमः)
अकामया कृतस्तत्र यज्ञो होत्रनुशासनात् । शुक्रस्य पुनराजाति: पर्णादो नाम धर्मवित्
akāmayā kṛtastatra yajño hotr-anuśāsanāt | śukrasya punarājātiḥ parṇādo nāma dharmavit ||
Nārada said: There, the sacrifice was carried out even without personal desire, in accordance with the direction of the officiating Hotṛ. The Hotṛ was a righteous sage named Parṇāda, regarded as a rebirth—an enduring renewal of Śukra’s line. The episode shows that ritual duty, when performed under proper guidance and with integrity, rests not on private inclination but on adherence to dharma and right procedure.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma-centered action: even if personal desire is absent, a duty like a yajña can be rightly completed when performed under proper priestly guidance and with knowledge of dharma. Ethical worth is tied to correct intention (non-craving) and correct procedure (anuśāsana), not to personal preference.
Nārada describes a sacrifice that was completed despite a lack of personal desire, following the Hotṛ’s instructions. He identifies the Hotṛ as the dharma-knowing sage Parṇāda, connected to Śukra as a ‘punarājāti’—a renewed birth or reappearance within Śukra’s line.