Shloka 313
Āścarya-kathana: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Dialogue on Sūrya (Vivasvat) and the ‘Second Sun’ Phenomenon
त्वं कर्ता युगधर्माणां निराशी: कर्मसंज्ञितम् । अमिततेजस्वी ब्रह्माको इस धर्मका उपदेश देकर उस समय भगवानने उनसे कहा --/तुम निष्कामभावसे सारे कर्म करते हुए युगधर्मोके प्रवर्तक बनो”
tvaṁ kartā yugadharmāṇāṁ nirāśī karma-saṁjñitam | amitatejasvī brahmā ko ’sya dharmasyopadeśaṁ dattvā tasmin kāle bhagavān uvāca—tvaṁ niṣkāma-bhāvena sarvāṇi karmāṇi kurvan yugadharmāṇāṁ pravartako bhava |
Vaiśampāyana said: “You are to be the establisher of the dharmas appropriate to the ages. Perform what is called ‘action’ without expectation of reward. Having instructed him in this dharma, the Blessed Lord said at that time: ‘Act in a spirit of desirelessness, carrying out all duties, and become the one who sets in motion the righteous order for the age.’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches niṣkāma-karma: one should perform all duties without craving the fruits, and thereby uphold and establish yuga-dharma—the ethical order appropriate to one’s time.
Vaiśampāyana reports a moment of instruction: after teaching ‘this dharma,’ the divine speaker exhorts the listener to act selflessly and become an initiator of righteous norms for the age.