Shloka 1
एकान्तिधर्म-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into Ekāntin Dharma) / The Origin and Practice of Single-Pointed Nārāyaṇa-Centered Discipline
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका ३ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ४५३ श्लोक हैं) #द-2८5- | पर ॥ #* पजञ्चत्रिशर्दाधिकत्रिशततमो< ध्याय: नारदजीका श्वेतद्वीपदर्शन, वहाँके निवासियोंके स्वरूपका वर्णन, राजा उपरिचरका चरित्र तथा पाञ्चरात्रकी उत्पत्तिका प्रसड्भ भीष्म उवाच स एवमुक्तो द्विपदां वरिष्ठो नारायणेनोत्तमपूरुषेण । जगाद वाक्यं द्विपदां वरिष्ठ नारायणं लोकहिताधिवासम्,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--युधिष्ठिर! पुरुषोत्तम भगवान् नारायणने जब पुरुषप्रवर नारदजीसे इस प्रकार कहा, तब वे लोकहितके आश्रयभूत पुरुषाग्रगण्य भगवान् नारायणसे यों बोले
bhīṣma uvāca | sa evam ukto dvipadāṁ variṣṭho nārāyaṇenottama-pūruṣeṇa | jagāda vākyaṁ dvipadāṁ variṣṭa nārāyaṇaṁ loka-hitādhivāsam ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai Yudhiṣṭhira! Ketika Sang Puruṣottama, Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa, demikian menuturkan sabda kepada Nārada—yang utama di antara manusia—maka Nārada pun, yang terbaik di antara insan, menjawab Nārāyaṇa, tumpuan kesejahteraan dunia.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse establishes the ethical frame of the discourse: teachings about God and dharma are presented as loka-hita—meant for the welfare of the world. It also underscores humility and reverence in spiritual inquiry: even the greatest sages speak as respondents before the Supreme.
Bhishma narrates a shift in the dialogue: after Nārāyaṇa speaks to Nārada, Nārada begins his reply. This sets up the forthcoming account connected with Śvetadvīpa and related Vaiṣṇava themes (as indicated by the chapter’s traditional topic).