Shloka 523
Pitāmaha-sabhā-varṇana & Hariścandra-māhātmya
Description of Brahmā’s Assembly and the Eminence of Hariścandra
ऋषयो बालखिल्याश्षु योनिजायोनिजास्तथा । राजेन्द्र! स्वामी कार्तिकेय भी वहाँ उपस्थित होकर सदा ब्रह्माजीकी सेवा करते हैं। भगवान् नारायण, देवर्षिगण, बालखिल्य ऋषि तथा दूसरे योनिज और अयोनिज ऋषि उस सभामें ब्रह्माजीकी आराधना करते हैं
ṛṣayo bālakhilyāś ca yonijāyonijāś tathā | rājendra! svāmī kārtikeyo 'pi tatraiva samupasthitaḥ sadā brahmaṇaḥ sevāṃ karoti | bhagavān nārāyaṇo devarṣigaṇā bālakhilyā ṛṣayaś ca anye ca yonijā ayoni-jāś ca ṛṣayaḥ tasmin sabhāyāṃ brahmaṇa ārādhanāṃ kurvanti |
Narada berkata: “Wahai raja terbaik, di sana pun hadir para resi—termasuk para Bālakhilya—serta para resi yang lahir dari rahim dan yang tidak lahir dari rahim. Skanda (Kārtikeya), sang panglima ilahi, berdiri di sana dan senantiasa melayani Brahmā. Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa, para devarṣi, para ṛṣi Bālakhilya, dan resi-resi lainnya—baik yoni-lahir maupun tidak yoni-lahir—memuja Brahmā dalam sidang itu.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic hierarchy and humility: even exalted beings—gods, great sages, and Nārāyaṇa—honor Brahmā through worship and service, showing that true greatness expresses itself as reverence and disciplined attendance in a righteous assembly.
Nārada is describing Brahmā’s celestial assembly hall, listing the eminent attendees—Bālakhilya sages, various classes of ṛṣis (womb-born and non-womb-born), Kārtikeya in constant service, and Nārāyaṇa with the devarṣis—who are engaged in worship of Brahmā.