Shloka 20
कृतयुगवर्णनम् तथा राजधर्मोपदेशः
Kṛtayuga Description and Instruction on Royal Dharma
मार्कण्डेयजी बोले--राजन! मैं स्वयं प्रकट होनेवाले सनातन
anādinidhanaṁ bhūtaṁ viśvam avyayam akṣayam | eṣa kartā na kriyate kāraṇaṁ cāpi pauruṣe ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : « Cet Être est sans commencement et sans fin — l’univers lui-même, impérissable et inaltérable. Lui seul est l’agent ; nul autre artisan ne le façonne. Et même dans l’accomplissement des buts de l’homme (puruṣārtha), c’est Lui la cause décisive. »
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts a supreme, uncaused reality: the ultimate Being is beginningless and endless, identical with the imperishable ground of the universe. He is the true agent behind all action and the ultimate cause even of human goals (dharma, artha, kāma, mokṣa), emphasizing dependence of worldly and ethical striving upon the divine source.
In the Vana Parva setting, Vaiśampāyana continues a discourse that praises the supreme Lord as the cosmic origin and inner ruler. This verse crystallizes that praise by stating His eternity, His status as the ultimate doer, and His causal role in human endeavor.