Shloka 20
Atithi’s Direction to the Nāga-sage Padma at Naimiṣa (अतिथ्युपदेशः—नैमिषे पद्मनागोपाख्यानप्रस्तावः)
वेदपुराणेतिहासप्रामाण्यान्नारायणमुखोद्गता: सर्वात्मान: सर्वकर्तार: सर्वभावाश्न ब्राह्मणाश्व
arjuna uvāca | vedapurāṇetihāsaprāmāṇyān nārāyaṇamukhodgatāḥ sarvātmānaḥ sarvakartāraḥ sarvabhāvasvarūpā brāhmaṇāḥ ||
Arjuna dit : Sur l’autorité des Veda, des Purāṇa et des Itihāsa, il est établi que les Brāhmaṇa sont issus de la bouche de Nārāyaṇa. Aussi faut-il les considérer comme l’incarnation du Soi universel, comme les agents de l’acte sacré, et comme les représentants de l’ensemble des qualités de bon augure—dignes de vénération et d’une conduite empreinte de retenue à leur égard.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse grounds the special reverence due to Brāhmaṇas in scriptural authority (Veda–Purāṇa–Itihāsa), presenting them as arising from Nārāyaṇa’s mouth—symbolizing their role as bearers of sacred speech, learning, and ritual—and thus as ethically protected and honored within dharma.
In the didactic setting of Śānti Parva, Arjuna speaks to affirm a dharma-based view of Brāhmaṇas, citing recognized scriptural sources to justify their exalted status and the moral obligations others have toward them.