Shloka 26
Atithi-prāpti and the Brāhmaṇa’s Deliberation on Triadic Dharma (अतिथिप्राप्तिः धर्मत्रयविचारश्च)
तस्य मे तप्ततपसो निगृहीतेन्द्रियस्थ च । नारायणप्रसादेन क्षीरोदस्यानुकूलत:
tasya me taptatapaso nigṛhītendriyastha ca | nārāyaṇaprasādena kṣīrodasyānukūlataḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “When I had completed my austerities, having brought my senses under restraint, then—by the gracious favor of Nārāyaṇa and through the kindly support of the Ocean of Milk—I attained knowledge of the three times (past, present, and future) in accordance with my wish. Therefore, to remove your doubt, I shall state what is excellent and in keeping with justice; listen with focused attention.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True insight is presented as arising from disciplined austerity and restraint of the senses, but it is ultimately perfected by divine grace (Nārāyaṇa-prasāda). Such knowledge should then be used ethically—to resolve doubts and articulate what is just (nyāyocita).
Vaiśampāyana explains the authority behind his forthcoming instruction: after completing tapas and mastering self-control, he received—through Nārāyaṇa’s favor and the auspicious setting of the Ocean of Milk—knowledge of the three times. He now promises to answer the listeners’ doubts with a proper, justice-aligned teaching.