Shloka 40
अध्याय ३५१ — उञ्छवृत्ति-व्रतसिद्धेः मानुषस्य परमगतिः
Sūrya–Nāga Dialogue on the Perfected Gleaner-Ascetic
भूतभव्यभविष्यज्ञ: सत्यवादी दृढव्रत: । तमुवाच नत मूर्ध्ना देवानामादिरव्यय:
bhūtabhavyabhaviṣyajñaḥ satyavādī dṛḍhavrataḥ | tam uvāca nata-mūrdhnā devānām ādir avyayaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Apāntaratamā connaissait le passé, l’avenir devenu présent et ce qui n’était pas encore advenu ; il disait la vérité et demeurait inébranlable dans ses vœux. Alors le Seigneur Hari, impérissable, source première des dieux, s’adressa à ce fils qui se tenait debout, la tête inclinée avec révérence.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates ethical integrity—truthfulness (satya) and steadfast commitment to vows (vrata)—as marks of spiritual authority, and frames genuine knowledge as spanning time (past, unfolding present, and future), culminating in reverent receptivity to divine instruction.
Vaiśampāyana describes a venerable figure (identified in context as Apāntaratamas) as omniscient across time and unwavering in truth and vows. Standing with bowed head, he is then addressed by the imperishable Lord Hari, presented as the primal source of the gods.