Shloka 6
Atithi-prāpti and the Brāhmaṇa’s Deliberation on Triadic Dharma (अतिथिप्राप्तिः धर्मत्रयविचारश्च)
श्रुत्वा माहात्म्यमेतस्य देहिनां परमात्मन: । जनमेजयो महाप्राज्ञो वैशम्पायनमब्रवीत्,परम बुद्धिमान् जनमेजयने समस्त प्राणियोंके आत्मस्वरूप इन परमात्मा नारायणदेवका माहात्म्य सुनकर उनसे इस प्रकार कहा
śrutvā māhātmyam etasya dehināṃ paramātmanaḥ | janamejayo mahāprājño vaiśampāyanam abravīt |
Having heard of the greatness of this Supreme Self—who is the inner Self of all embodied beings—the highly wise King Janamejaya addressed Vaiśampāyana, seeking further clarification in the unfolding discourse.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the doctrine that the Paramātman is the inner Self of all embodied beings; hearing this divine greatness prompts inquiry, indicating that true understanding of dharma is pursued through attentive listening and further questioning.
After hearing a description of the Supreme Self’s greatness, King Janamejaya—portrayed as highly intelligent—turns to the sage Vaiśampāyana and speaks, marking a transition to the next question or explanation in the discourse.