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 ||
Ceux qui connaissent véritablement Nārāyaṇa invoquent aussi ici le témoignage des rishis : dans les temps anciens, afin d’atteindre le divin Nārāyaṇa, des hommes dévots mirent sous leur joug les « bêtes »—c’est-à-dire qu’ils maîtrisèrent les sens indociles. Le verset présente l’essor spirituel comme une discipline éthique : la bhakti ne se prouve pas par la prétention, mais par la retenue et la souveraineté intérieure tournées vers Dieu.
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.