Shloka 17
Nāga–Nāgabhāryā Saṃvāda: Varṇa-Dharma, Gṛhastha-Discipline, and Mokṣa-Self-Inquiry
Mahābhārata 12.347
प्रोक्ष्यापसव्यं देवेश: प्राडुमुख: कृतवान् स्वयम् । मर्यादास्थापनार्थ च ततो वचनमुक्तवान्
prokṣyāpasavyaṁ deveśaḥ prāṅmukhaḥ kṛtavān svayam | maryādāsthāpanārthaṁ ca tato vacanam uktavān ||
देवेश्वर ने स्वयं अपसव्य भाव से प्रोक्षण करके पूर्वाभिमुख होकर, मर्यादा-स्थापन के लिए तत्पश्चात ये वचन कहे।
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is upheld not only by intention but also by correctly established norms (maryādā) and disciplined ritual action; divine authority is portrayed as instituting boundaries to preserve ethical and social order.
Nārada describes the Lord performing a ritual act of sprinkling in the apasavya manner, then turning to face east and delivering an authoritative statement meant to establish or reaffirm dharmic boundaries.