Shloka 6
Nāmānirukta of Nārāyaṇa (Keśava–Viṣṇu–Vāsudeva) and the Rudra–Nārāyaṇa Unity Theme
क्षितिं वा देवलोकं वा गम्यतां यदि रोचते । अप्रमादश्न वः कार्यो ब्रह्म हि प्रचुरच्छलम्
kṣitiṃ vā devalokaṃ vā gamyatāṃ yadi rocate | apramādaś ca vaḥ kāryo brahma hi pracuracchalam ||
Bhīṣma said: “If it pleases you, you may go—either to the earth or to the world of the gods. Yet you must remain vigilant and not fall into heedlessness, for the Veda (brahman) contains many subtle stratagems: it often teaches dharma by holding out enticing results as a pretext, and thus can mislead the inattentive.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Practice apramāda—steady vigilance—because Vedic injunctions can be framed with alluring promised fruits; without careful discernment one may mistake the lure of results for the essence of dharma.
Bhīṣma addresses listeners as disciples, granting them freedom to choose their path (earthly life or heavenly aims) while warning them to remain alert, since scriptural teachings may employ persuasive, reward-based formulations that require thoughtful interpretation.