Shloka 16
Cāturhotra as Inner Sacrifice (Yoga-Yajña) and Nārāyaṇa Recitation
ऋषचश्नाप्यत्र शंसन्ति नारायणविदो जना: । नारायणाय देवाय यदविन्दन् पशून् पुरा
ṛṣayaś cāpy atra śaṃsanti nārāyaṇavido janāḥ | nārāyaṇāya devāya yad avindan paśūn purā ||
Quienes conocen de veras a Nārāyaṇa citan también aquí el testimonio de los rishis: en tiempos antiguos, para alcanzar al divino Nārāyaṇa, los hombres devotos sometieron a su dominio a las “bestias”, es decir, dominaron los sentidos indómitos. El verso presenta el progreso espiritual como disciplina ética: la devoción no se prueba con palabras, sino con contención y gobierno interior orientados a Dios.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Devotion to Nārāyaṇa is validated through disciplined mastery of the senses; the ‘animals’ to be subdued are the sense-forces that otherwise drag the mind outward. The verse appeals to ṛṣi-authority to present self-restraint as a form of inner sacrifice directed to God.
A brāhmaṇa speaker supports a teaching about yoga-like sacrifice by citing what the seers and Nārāyaṇa-knowers say: in ancient times devotees, seeking Nārāyaṇa, ‘obtained/subdued the paśus’—understood as bringing the senses under control as part of spiritual practice.