Shloka 14
देवकी-विवाहः, आकाशवाणी, भूरभारावतरण-याचना, क्षीराब्धि-स्तुति, केशावतार-नियोजनम्
अग्निः सुवर्णस्य गुरुर् गवां सूर्यः परो गुरुः ममाप्य् अखिललोकानां गुरुर् नारायणो गुरुः
agniḥ suvarṇasya gurur gavāṃ sūryaḥ paro guruḥ mamāpy akhilalokānāṃ gurur nārāyaṇo guruḥ
Fire is the preceptor of gold; for cattle, the Sun is the highest guide. Yet for me—and for all worlds—Nārāyaṇa alone is the Guru, the supreme Teacher.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: The supreme refuge and directive principle for all beings amid cosmic distress
Teaching: Devotional
Quality: revealing
Concept: All limited guides preside over particular domains, but Nārāyaṇa alone is the universal Guru and inner ruler of all worlds.
Vedantic Theme: Brahman
Application: Seek ultimate guidance in the divine rather than treating partial authorities (skills, status, institutions) as final.
Vishishtadvaita: Affirms Nārāyaṇa as the universal controller (antaryāmin) and final authority, consistent with Viśiṣṭādvaita’s Lord-centered ontology.
Vishnu Form: Narayana
Bhakti Type: Shanta
Antaryamin: Yes
Jagat Karana: Yes
FAQs
This verse elevates Nārāyaṇa from a worldly instructor to the ultimate source of all guidance, portraying Vishnu as the supreme governor of dharma and cosmic order for every realm.
By giving familiar examples—Agni guiding gold and the Sun guiding cattle—Parāśara builds a graded analogy that culminates in Nārāyaṇa as the universal Teacher for all beings and worlds.
Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa) is presented as the Supreme Reality whose authority surpasses all limited guides, aligning with Vaishnava philosophy where the Lord is the final refuge and ultimate instructor.