Shloka 14
Āścarya-kathana: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Dialogue on Sūrya (Vivasvat) and the ‘Second Sun’ Phenomenon
तेन धर्मेण कृतवान् दैवं पित्र्यं च भारत । फेनपा ऋषयश्जैव तं धर्म प्रतिपेदिरे
tena dharmeṇa kṛtavān daivaṃ pitryaṃ ca bhārata | phenapā ṛṣayaś caiva taṃ dharmaṃ pratipedire ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana dijo: «Oh Bhārata, por ese mismo dharma Nārāyaṇa cumplió los ritos de adoración y las ofrendas debidas a los dioses y a los antepasados. Y los sabios llamados Phenapās también adoptaron y sostuvieron ese dharma. Así, esta enseñanza se presenta como una norma antigua y autorizada de recta conducta: practicada primero por lo divino y luego recibida por los videntes.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
That dharma is validated by exemplary practice: Nārāyaṇa himself performs the obligations toward gods (daiva) and ancestors (pitrya) through it, and the Phenapā sages accept it. The ethical point is that right conduct includes honoring cosmic and ancestral obligations, and that a dharma gains authority through divine and seerly transmission.
Vaiśaṃpāyana is describing the pedigree of a particular dharma: it was practiced by Nārāyaṇa in performing divine and ancestral rites, and later adopted by the Phenapā ṛṣis. The verse functions as a credentialing statement—linking the teaching to ancient, revered exemplars.