Shloka 24
अश्वशिरो-आख्यानम्
Aśvaśiras / Hayaśiras Narrative: Retrieval of the Vedas
नारायणं संनिरीक्ष्य प्रसन्नेनान्तरात्मना । नमस्कृत्वा महादेवमिदं वचनमत्रवीत्,प्रसन्न चित्तसे महादेव भगवान् नारायणकी ओर देखकर नारदजीने उन्हें नमस्कार किया और इस प्रकार कहा
Nārāyaṇaṁ saṁnirīkṣya prasannenāntarātmanā | namaskṛtvā Mahādevam idaṁ vacanam abravīt ||
With a serene mind and an inwardly purified heart, he gazed upon Nārāyaṇa. Then, having bowed in reverence to Mahādeva, he spoke these words—steadfast in devotion and humility, before proceeding to the teaching that follows.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models the ethical-spiritual prerequisite for instruction: one should approach sacred discourse with inner calm (prasanna antarātman), focused attention, and reverence. It also conveys a dharmic attitude of honoring the divine—here expressed through salutations to Mahādeva while beholding Nārāyaṇa—before speaking.
In Bhīṣma’s narration, the speaker (implied by context) first beholds Nārāyaṇa with a tranquil heart, then offers respectful salutations to Mahādeva, and only afterward begins to speak. The verse functions as a transition into the ensuing statement/teaching.