Shloka 4
नूनमेकान्तधर्मो<यं श्रेष्ठो नारायणप्रिय: । अगत्वा गतयस्तिस््रो यद् गच्छत्यव्ययं हरिम्,निश्चय ही यह अनन्यभावसे भगवान्का भजनरूप धर्म श्रेष्ठ एवं श्रीनारायणको परम प्रिय है; क्योंकि इसका आश्रय लेनेवाले भक्तजन उक्त तीन गतियोंको प्राप्त न होकर सीधे चौथी गतिमें पहुँचकर अविनाशी श्रीहरिको प्राप्त कर लेते हैं
nūnam ekāntadharmo ’yaṃ śreṣṭho nārāyaṇapriyaḥ | agatvā gatayas tisro yad gacchaty avyayaṃ harim |
Janamejaya said: “Surely this path of single-minded devotion is the highest and most beloved of Nārāyaṇa. For one who takes refuge in it does not pass through the three ordinary destinations; instead, he goes straight to the imperishable Hari—attaining the supreme, fourth goal.”
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Single-minded devotion (ekānta-dharma) to Nārāyaṇa is presented as the श्रेष्ठ (highest) path because it leads directly to the imperishable Lord (Hari), surpassing the usual three destinations and culminating in the supreme, final attainment.
Janamejaya, inquiring within the Śānti Parva’s teachings on dharma and liberation, affirms the excellence of exclusive devotion: he notes that devotees who take refuge in this discipline bypass intermediate post-mortem courses and reach Hari directly.