Shloka 183
अश्वशिरो-आख्यानम्
Aśvaśiras / Hayaśiras Narrative: Retrieval of the Vedas
स्थितौ धर्मोत्तरौ होतो तथा तपसि घधिष्ठितौ । “इनमेंसे हरि और कृष्ण किसी और कार्यमें संलग्न हैं; परंतु ये दोनों भाई नारायण और नर धर्मको ही प्रधान मानते हुए तपस्यामें संलग्न हैं
sthītau dharmottarau hṛtau tathā tapasi cādhiṣṭhitau |
Bhīṣma said: “These two are firmly established in righteousness and devoted to what is higher than mere worldly gain; likewise, they are steadfastly engaged in austerity. Though Hari and Kṛṣṇa may be occupied with other tasks, these two brothers—Nārāyaṇa and Nara—regard dharma as supreme and therefore remain intent on tapas.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is presented as the highest priority: even exalted beings may perform many roles, but the ideal model is to remain firmly grounded in righteousness and sustained by tapas (disciplined self-restraint) as the means to uphold and realize dharma.
Bhīṣma contrasts different divine/heroic engagements: while Hari and Kṛṣṇa can be involved in various worldly or cosmic tasks, the paired figures Nārāyaṇa and Nara are depicted as brothers who keep dharma foremost and remain devoted to austerity, exemplifying spiritual steadfastness.