Shloka 95
Nāgendra–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda: Praśna-vidhi and Dharmic Approach on the Gomatī Riverbank
अयं हि नित्य: परमो महर्षि- महाविभूतिर्गुणवर्जिताख्य: । गुणैश्व संयोगमुपैति शीघ्र कालो यथर्तावृतुसम्प्रयुक्त:,ये परम महर्षि नारायण नित्य, महान् ऐश्वर्यसे युक्त और गुणोंसे रहित हैं तथापि जैसे गुणहीन काल ऋतुके गुणोंसे युक्त होता है, उसी प्रकार वे भी समय-समयपर गुणोंको स्वीकार करके उनसे संयुक्त होते हैं
ayaṁ hi nityaḥ paramo maharṣiḥ mahāvibhūtir guṇavarjitākhyaḥ | guṇaiś ca saṁyogam upaiti śīghraṁ kālo yathartāv ṛtusamprayuktaḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “He is eternal—the supreme great seer—of vast majesty, and is spoken of as beyond the guṇas. Yet, he swiftly enters into association with the guṇas, just as Time, though itself without qualities, becomes connected with the qualities of the seasons in due course. In the same way, Nārāyaṇa, though ever transcendent, assumes guṇic modes at appropriate times for the ordering of the world.”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the Supreme (Nārāyaṇa) is intrinsically beyond the guṇas, yet can voluntarily associate with them for cosmic governance—like Time, which is itself quality-less but appears qualified through seasonal conditions. This preserves both transcendence (nirguṇatva) and purposeful immanence (līlā/administration of the world).
Vaiśaṃpāyana is explaining a doctrinal point in Śānti Parva: the nature of the Supreme as eternally transcendent, while still capable of manifesting within the world by taking up guṇic modes when required, illustrated through the analogy of Time’s relation to the seasons.