Shloka 38
अश्वशिरो-आख्यानम्
Aśvaśiras / Hayaśiras Narrative: Retrieval of the Vedas
दैवं पित्रयं च सततं तस्य विज्ञाय तत्त्वत: । आत्मप्राप्तानि च ततः प्राप्तुवन्ति द्विजोत्तमा:
daivaṃ pitryaṃ ca satataṃ tasya vijñāya tattvataḥ | ātmaprāptāni ca tataḥ prāpnuvanti dvijottamāḥ ||
Narada says: Those best among the twice-born, having correctly understood in truth the divine rites and the ancestral (pitṛ) rites that are to be performed for that purpose, thereby attain the objects they seek—gains that properly come to the self through such well-directed ritual and understanding.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
True understanding of both divine (deva-related) and ancestral (pitṛ-related) duties, performed with correct intent and knowledge, leads to the rightful attainment of one’s desired aims; ritual is framed as effective when grounded in tattva (accurate understanding).
In Narada’s instruction within the Śānti Parva’s dharma discourse, he emphasizes the proper comprehension and regular performance of deva- and pitṛ-obligations by the dvijas, presenting these as means by which they secure their intended results.