Shloka 20
Atithi’s Direction to the Nāga-sage Padma at Naimiṣa (अतिथ्युपदेशः—नैमिषे पद्मनागोपाख्यानप्रस्तावः)
वेदपुराणेतिहासप्रामाण्यान्नारायणमुखोद्गता: सर्वात्मान: सर्वकर्तार: सर्वभावाश्न ब्राह्मणाश्व
arjuna uvāca | vedapurāṇetihāsaprāmāṇyān nārāyaṇamukhodgatāḥ sarvātmānaḥ sarvakartāraḥ sarvabhāvasvarūpā brāhmaṇāḥ ||
Berdasarkan otoritas Weda, Purāṇa, dan Itihāsa, telah ditegakkan bahwa para Brāhmaṇa muncul dari mulut Nārāyaṇa. Karena itu mereka dipandang sebagai perwujudan Diri semesta, pelaksana tindakan suci, dan himpunan segala sifat mulia—patut dihormati, dan terhadap mereka perilaku harus dijaga dengan pengendalian diri.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse grounds the special reverence due to Brāhmaṇas in scriptural authority (Veda–Purāṇa–Itihāsa), presenting them as arising from Nārāyaṇa’s mouth—symbolizing their role as bearers of sacred speech, learning, and ritual—and thus as ethically protected and honored within dharma.
In the didactic setting of Śānti Parva, Arjuna speaks to affirm a dharma-based view of Brāhmaṇas, citing recognized scriptural sources to justify their exalted status and the moral obligations others have toward them.