Shloka 98
Atithi-prāpti and the Brāhmaṇa’s Deliberation on Triadic Dharma (अतिथिप्राप्तिः धर्मत्रयविचारश्च)
तेनानुशिष्टो ब्रह्मापि स्वलोकमचिराद् गत: । एवमेष महाभाग: पद्मनाभ: सनातन:
tenānuśiṣṭo brahmāpi svalokam acirād gataḥ | evam eṣa mahābhāgaḥ padmanābhaḥ sanātanaḥ ||
Vyāsa dit : Ainsi instruit, Brahmā lui aussi partit bientôt vers son propre monde. C’est pourquoi le Seigneur Padmanābha, bienheureux et éternel, est célébré comme le premier bénéficiaire des sacrifices, et comme le soutien et le promoteur constant de l’ordre sacrificiel. Tantôt il maintient la voie du retrait (nivṛtti-dharma), adoptée par les grandes âmes au mérite impérissable ; tantôt, tenant compte de la diversité des dispositions mentales des êtres, il établit pour le monde la voie de l’engagement dans l’action (pravṛtti-dharma).
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents the Lord (Padmanābha/Viṣṇu) as the regulator of dharma in two complementary modes: nivṛtti (renunciatory withdrawal aimed at liberation) and pravṛtti (engaged duty sustaining society and ritual order). Both are framed as divinely sanctioned, applied according to the capacities and mental tendencies of beings.
After receiving instruction, Brahmā departs to his own realm. Vyāsa then characterizes Padmanābha as eternal and supremely authoritative over sacrifice and dharma—supporting sacrificial order while also guiding beings either toward renunciation or toward worldly duty as appropriate.