Shloka 22

Āścarya-kathana: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Dialogue on Sūrya (Vivasvat) and the ‘Second Sun’ Phenomenon

Devanagari script

ऋग्वेदपाठपठितं व्रतमेतद्धि दुश्चरम्‌ । सुपर्णाच्चाप्यधिगतो धर्म एब सनातन:

Transliteration

ṛgvedapāṭhapaṭhitaṁ vratam etad dhi duścaram | suparṇāc cāpy adhigato dharma eṣa sanātanaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “This observance, grounded in the recitation and study of the Ṛgveda, is indeed difficult to practice. This eternal dharma, moreover, was also learned from Suparṇa (Garuḍa).”

Word by Word

ऋग्वेदपाठपठितम्recited as the recitation of the Rigveda

व्रतम्vow, observance

एतत्this

हिindeed, for

दुश्चरम्hard to perform

सुपर्णात्from Suparṇa (Garuda)

चand

अपिalso

अधिगतःobtained, learned

धर्मःdharma, righteous law

एवindeed, just

सनातनःeternal, ancient

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Ṛ

Ṛgveda

Suparṇa (Garuḍa)

vrata (observance/vow)

sanātana-dharma (eternal dharma)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes that true dharma is both scripturally grounded (linked to Ṛgvedic recitation/study) and demanding in practice; it is presented as sanātana—perennial and authoritative—also transmitted through revered sources such as Suparṇa (Garuḍa).

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana, continuing the discourse in Śānti Parva, underscores the difficulty of a particular vow/discipline associated with Vedic study and notes its traditional pedigree by stating that this eternal dharma was also learned from Suparṇa.