Shloka 13
धर्मस्य बहुद्वारत्वम् — Nārada’s Audience with Indra (Śānti-parva 340)
नच मां ते ददृशिरे न च द्रक्ष्यति कश्नन । ऋते हौकान्तिकश्रेष्ठात् त्वं चैवैकान्तिकोत्तम:
na ca māṃ te dadṛśire na ca drakṣyati kaścana | ṛte hy aikāntikaśreṣṭhāt tvaṃ caivāikāntikottamaḥ ||
Les autres ne M’ont point vu, et nul autre ne Me verra. Hormis le plus éminent parmi les dévots à l’esprit unifié, aucun homme ne peut Me contempler en vérité. Tu es le meilleur de ceux qui Me sont d’une dévotion inébranlable ; c’est pourquoi Ma vision t’a été accordée.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Divine vision (darśana) is not presented as a general entitlement but as a grace granted to those with aikāntika-bhakti—exclusive, unwavering devotion. The verse emphasizes spiritual eligibility grounded in single-minded commitment rather than status or mere curiosity.
Bhīṣma, speaking in the Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, conveys a statement (in the voice of the divine or as a doctrinal assertion) that others could not perceive this divine presence, whereas the addressed person did—because that person is foremost among the Lord’s exclusive devotees.