Shloka 2
Nārāyaṇopadeśa to Mārkaṇḍeya (Cosmic Self-Identification and Yuga Doctrine) | नारायणोपदेशः
ताक्ष्य उवाच कि नु श्रेय: पुरुषस्येह भद्रे कथं कुर्वन् न च्यवते स्वधर्मात् । आचक्ष्व मे चारुसर्वाज्ञि कुर्या त्वया शिष्टो न च्यवेयं स्वधर्मात्,ताक्ष्यने पूछा--भद्रे! इस संसारमें मनुष्यका कल्याण करनेवाली वस्तु क्या है? किस प्रकार आचरण करनेवाला पुरुष अपने धर्मसे भ्रष्ट नहीं होता है? सर्वागसुन्दरी देवि! तुम मुझसे इसका वर्णन करो। मैं तुम्हारी आज्ञाका पालन करूँगा। मुझे विश्वास है कि तुमसे उपदेश ग्रहण करके मैं अपने धर्मसे गिर नहीं सकता
tākṣya uvāca — ki nu śreyaḥ puruṣasyeha bhadre kathaṃ kurvan na cyavate svadharmāt | ācakṣva me cāru-sarvajñi kuryā tvayā śiṣṭo na cyaveyaṃ svadharmāt ||
Takṣya said: “O auspicious lady, what truly brings welfare to a person in this world? By what kind of conduct does one not fall away from one’s own dharma? O lovely one, all-knowing lady—tell me. I will act as you instruct; for, guided by your teaching, I am confident I will not deviate from my rightful duty.”
ताक्ष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry: true welfare (śreyas) is tied to steadfastness in one’s svadharma. It emphasizes seeking wise instruction and aligning one’s actions with one’s rightful duty so that conduct does not slip into adharma.
Takṣya addresses an auspicious, all-knowing woman and asks for guidance on what benefits a person and how to act without falling from svadharma. He presents himself as a willing disciple, promising to follow her counsel to remain firm in dharma.