Shloka 5

एकान्तिधर्म-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into Ekāntin Dharma) / The Origin and Practice of Single-Pointed Nārāyaṇa-Centered Discipline

Devanagari script

तत्‌ पारमेष्ठ्यस्य वचो निशम्य नारायण: शाश्वतधर्मगोप्ता

Transliteration

tat pārameṣṭhyasya vaco niśamya nārāyaṇaḥ śāśvatadharmagoptā

Translation

Having heard the words of the Supreme Lord (Pārameṣṭhya), Nārāyaṇa—ever the guardian of the eternal Dharma—responded in accordance with that timeless moral order.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (speech/statement)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पारमेष्ठ्यस्य: of the Supreme Lord (Brahmā/Parameṣṭhin)
• पारमेष्ठ्यस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारमेष्ठ्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• वचः: speech; words
• वचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• निशम्य: having heard
• निशम्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-शम्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Absolutive (having heard)

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शाश्वतधर्मगोप्ता: protector of the eternal dharma
• शाश्वतधर्मगोप्ता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाश्वत-धर्म-गोप्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārāyaṇa
• Pārameṣṭhya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights an ethical ideal: true guardianship of Dharma begins with attentive listening to higher, principled counsel, and then acting as a protector of the eternal moral order rather than personal preference.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada narrates that Nārāyaṇa, after hearing the utterance of Pārameṣṭhya (the Supreme Lord), is characterized as the perpetual protector of Dharma—setting the stage for a response or action aligned with that divine instruction.