Atithi-satkāra and the Consolation of Wise Counsel (अतिथिसत्कारः प्रज्ञानवचनस्य च पराश्वासनम्)
“जो सम्पूर्ण जगत्का उत्पादक, अविनाशी और अव्यक्त ईश्वर हैं, जिन्हें ज्ञानी पुरुष कूटस्थ, निर्दधन्द्र, कर्ता और अकर्ता मानते हैं, व्यक्त-भावको प्राप्त हुए उन्हीं परमेश्वरकी यह एक कल्याणमयी मूर्ति है ।।
arjuna uvāca | yo sampūrṇa-jagataḥ utpādakaḥ avināśī ca avyaktas īśvaraḥ, yaṃ jñāninaḥ puruṣāḥ kūṭasthaṃ nirdvandvaṃ kartāram akartāraṃ ca manyante, vyakta-bhāvaṃ prāptaḥ sa eva parameśvaraḥ eṣāṃ kalyāṇamayī ekā mūrtiḥ | naro nārāyaṇaś caiva jātau dharma-kulodvahau | tapasā mahatā yuktau deva-śreṣṭhau mahā-vratī ||
Arjuna berkata: “Dia, sumber seluruh jagat—tak-binasā, tak-termanifest, dan Tuhan—yang oleh para bijak dipahami sebagai kūṭastha, melampaui dualitas, sekaligus sebagai pelaku dan bukan-pelaku: Dia Yang Mahatinggi itu, ketika mengambil mode manifest, tampak di sini dalam satu rupa yang membawa kesejahteraan. Dalam garis Dharma telah lahir dua yang mulia, Nara dan Nārāyaṇa—terutama di antara yang ilahi, berkaul agung, dan dipenuhi tapa yang dahsyat.”
अर्जुन उवाच
The verse reconciles transcendence and immanence: the Supreme is unmanifest, immutable, and beyond dualities, yet can appear in an auspicious manifest form for the welfare of the world. It also elevates ascetic discipline (tapas) and great vows as marks of divine excellence in Nara–Nārāyaṇa.
Arjuna identifies the divine status of Nara and Nārāyaṇa, describing them as manifestations of the Supreme Lord. He praises their birth in the Dharma-lineage and their greatness in austerity and vows, framing them as exemplary divine sages within the Shānti Parva’s ethical-spiritual discourse.