Shloka 3
एकान्तिधर्म-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into Ekāntin Dharma) / The Origin and Practice of Single-Pointed Nārāyaṇa-Centered Discipline
पूजां गुरूणां सततं करोमि परस्य गुहां न तु भिन्नपूर्वम् । वेदा: स्वधीता मम लोकनाथ तप्तं तपो नानृतमुक्तपूर्वम्
Nārada uvāca: pūjāṃ gurūṇāṃ satataṃ karomi parasya guhāṃ na tu bhinnapūrvam | vedāḥ svadhītā mama lokanātha taptaṃ tapo nānṛtam uktapūrvam ||
नारदजी बोले—लोकनाथ! मैं गुरुजनों का सदा पूजन-आदर करता हूँ। किसी की गुप्त बात मैंने पहले कभी प्रकट नहीं की। मैंने वेदों का स्वाध्याय किया है, तपस्या की है और कभी असत्य नहीं कहा है।
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a compact ethical self-account: reverence to teachers, guarding others’ confidences, disciplined Vedic study, austerity, and unwavering truthfulness—virtues that together define trustworthy dharmic conduct.
Nārada addresses a revered ‘Lord of the worlds’ and lists his own vows and practices as credentials—asserting moral reliability and spiritual discipline while speaking within the Shānti Parva’s reflective, instruction-centered setting.