Shloka 37
Nārāyaṇasya Guhya-nāmāni Niruktāni (Etymologies of Nārāyaṇa’s Secret Epithets) / नारायणस्य गुह्यनामानि निरुक्तानि
निबन्धनी रज्जुरेषा या ग्रामे वसतो रति: । छित्त्वैतां सुकृतो यान्ति नैनां छिन्दन्ति दुष्कृत:
nibandhanī rajjur eṣā yā grāme vasato ratiḥ | chittvaitāṃ sukṛto yānti naināṃ chindanti duṣkṛtaḥ ||
नारद बोले—ग्राम-जीवन में रहने वाले मनुष्य की विषयों के प्रति जो आसक्ति होती है, वह बाँधने वाली रस्सी के समान है। पुण्यात्मा पुरुष उसे काटकर परमार्थ के पथ पर आगे बढ़ जाते हैं; पर जो पापी हैं, वे उसे काट नहीं पाते।
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Attachment (rati) to sense-objects in ordinary worldly life functions like a binding rope. Spiritual progress requires actively cutting this attachment through virtue, discipline, and discernment; those given to wrongdoing remain bound because they lack the inner strength and clarity to sever it.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-oriented setting, Nārada delivers a moral analogy: village-dwelling life symbolizes immersion in everyday desires, and attachment is compared to a rope. He contrasts the sukṛta (virtuous) who cut the bond and advance toward the higher good with the duṣkṛta (sinful) who cannot.