Shloka 96
Atithi-prāpti and the Brāhmaṇa’s Deliberation on Triadic Dharma (अतिथिप्राप्तिः धर्मत्रयविचारश्च)
य॑ं हित्वा देवता: सर्वा हव्यकव्यभुजो5भवन् | किंतु यह सनातन मोक्षधर्म अत्यन्त दुष्कर जान पड़ता है
yaṁ hitvā devatāḥ sarvā havyakavyabhujo 'bhavan | kintu yaḥ sanātano mokṣadharmo 'tyanta-duṣkaraḥ jñāyate | tvayy āveśita-bhāro 'haṁ dhṛtiṁ prāpsyāmy athaujasaḥ | yadā ca sura-kāryaṁ te aviṣahaṁ bhaviṣyati | tadāham ātma-jñānopadeśāya tava purataḥ prādurbhaviṣyāmi | iti uktvā bhagavān hayagrīvaḥ tatraivāntardadhāna ||
Janamejaya said: “Abandoning that higher path, all the gods became consumers of offerings—oblations to the fire and rites for the departed. Yet the ancient Dharma of liberation is known to be exceedingly difficult. If I place this burden upon you, by your strength I shall regain steadiness of mind. And whenever the task of the gods on your behalf becomes unbearable, I will appear before you to impart the teaching of Self-knowledge.” Having spoken thus, the Blessed Lord Hayagrīva vanished there itself.
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage contrasts ritual religiosity (havya-kavya offerings) with the far more demanding ‘mokṣa-dharma’—the path of liberation grounded in Self-knowledge. It implies that liberation requires exceptional resolve and guidance, and that true spiritual instruction (ātma-jñāna-upadeśa) is the decisive aid when ordinary duties become overwhelming.
Janamejaya speaks of the gods turning toward sacrificial consumption after abandoning the difficult path of liberation. He then entrusts a ‘burden’ to the addressed figure and promises to appear whenever divine tasks become unbearable, specifically to teach Self-knowledge. After making this assurance, Lord Hayagrīva vanishes on the spot.