Shloka 17
Nārāyaṇasya Guhya-nāmāni Niruktāni (Etymologies of Nārāyaṇa’s Secret Epithets) / नारायणस्य गुह्यनामानि निरुक्तानि
अदर्शनमसंस्पर्शस्तथासम्भाषणं सदा । यस्य भूतै: सह मुने स श्रेयो विन्दते परम्
adarśanam asaṁsparśas tathā asaṁbhāṣaṇaṁ sadā | yasya bhūtaiḥ saha mune sa śreyo vindate param ||
Nārada dit : «Ô sage, celui qui demeure constamment sans engagement envers les êtres vivants—ne les regardant pas, ne les touchant pas, ne conversant pas avec eux—atteint le Bien suprême.»
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises radical restraint: by withdrawing the senses and speech from social entanglement—no looking, touching, or talking with beings—a renunciant protects inner calm and moves toward the highest śreyas (supreme welfare), i.e., spiritual liberation.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and liberation, Nārada addresses a sage and states an ascetic rule of conduct: sustained non-interaction with living beings is presented as a means to attain the highest good.