Shloka 186
Nārāyaṇopadeśa to Mārkaṇḍeya (Cosmic Self-Identification and Yuga Doctrine) | नारायणोपदेशः
मुने! इन्द्र, अग्नि और पवन आदि मरुदगणोंके साथ देवतालोग जिस ब्रह्मको प्राप्त करनेके लिये श्रेष्ठ यज्ञोंद्वारा उसका पूजन करते हैं, वह मेरा परमपद है ।। इति श्रीमहाभारते वनपर्वणि मार्कण्डेयसमास्यापर्वणि सरस्वतीताक्ष्यसंवादे षडशीत्यधिकशततमो<ध्याय:
mune! indra, agni aura pavana ādi marudgaṇoṃke sātha devatāloga jisa brahmako prāpta karaneke liye śreṣṭha yajñoṃdvārā usakā pūjana karate haiṃ, vaha merā paramapada hai ||
Takṣya berkata: “Wahai resi! Brahman yang hendak dicapai oleh Indra, Agni, Pavan, dan para Marut beserta para dewa lainnya—yang mereka puja melalui yajña-yajña tertinggi—itulah keadaan tertinggiku, padaku yang paling luhur.”
ताक्ष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse identifies the highest goal as Brahman—the supreme reality sought even by the gods through exalted sacrifices—implying that ultimate fulfillment lies beyond mere power or status, in realization of the Absolute.
In the Sarasvatī–Takṣya dialogue within the Markandeya-related section of Vana Parva, Takṣya addresses a sage and declares that his ‘supreme state’ is the very Brahman that the gods strive to reach through their greatest rituals.