Shloka 123
Nāgendra–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda: Praśna-vidhi and Dharmic Approach on the Gomatī Riverbank
भूतान्तरात्मा वरद: सगुणो निर्गुणोडपि च | विराट्स्वरूप भगवान् नारायण इस जगत्के ईश्वर और स्रष्टा हैं, वे ही सब जीवोंके अन्तरात्मा, वरदाता, सगुण और निर्मुणरूप हैं
bhūtāntarātmā varadaḥ saguṇo nirguṇo 'pi ca | virāṭsvarūpo bhagavān nārāyaṇaḥ jagata īśvaraḥ sraṣṭā ca, sa eva sarvabhūtānām antarātmā varadaḥ saguṇa-nirguṇarūpaś ca ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: «El Bienaventurado Señor Nārāyaṇa —cuya forma es el Virāṭ cósmico— es el soberano y creador del mundo. Sólo Él mora como el Sí mismo interior en todos los seres; Él es el dador de dones, y debe ser comprendido tanto con atributos (saguṇa) como más allá de todo atributo (nirguṇa). Esta enseñanza asienta la autoridad última y el orden moral en la única realidad divina que lo penetra todo.»
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa is both immanent and transcendent: he dwells as the inner Self in all beings (ethical implication: reverence and non-harm toward life), yet also stands beyond qualities as nirguṇa while being approachable as saguṇa. This frames dharma as grounded in a single divine reality that creates, governs, and indwells the world.
In Śānti Parva’s reflective instruction, the narrator Vaiśaṃpāyana describes Nārāyaṇa’s supreme status—creator, ruler, cosmic form, and indwelling Self—functioning as a doctrinal affirmation (stuti/teaching) meant to orient the listener toward peace, right understanding, and devotion after the turmoil of war.