Shloka 22
Āścarya-kathana: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Dialogue on Sūrya (Vivasvat) and the ‘Second Sun’ Phenomenon
ऋग्वेदपाठपठितं व्रतमेतद्धि दुश्चरम् । सुपर्णाच्चाप्यधिगतो धर्म एब सनातन:
ṛgvedapāṭhapaṭhitaṁ vratam etad dhi duścaram | suparṇāc cāpy adhigato dharma eṣa sanātanaḥ ||
વૈશંપાયન બોલ્યા—ઋગ્વેદના પાઠ અને અધ્યયન પર આધારિત આ વ્રત ખરેખર દુષ્કર છે. અને આ સનાતન ધર્મ સુપર્ણ (ગરુડ) પાસેથી પણ પ્રાપ્ત થયો હતો.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes that true dharma is both scripturally grounded (linked to Ṛgvedic recitation/study) and demanding in practice; it is presented as sanātana—perennial and authoritative—also transmitted through revered sources such as Suparṇa (Garuḍa).
Vaiśampāyana, continuing the discourse in Śānti Parva, underscores the difficulty of a particular vow/discipline associated with Vedic study and notes its traditional pedigree by stating that this eternal dharma was also learned from Suparṇa.