Shloka 22
Nārāyaṇopadeśa to Mārkaṇḍeya (Cosmic Self-Identification and Yuga Doctrine) | नारायणोपदेशः
ताक्ष्यने पूछा--सुन्दर रूपवाली सौभाग्यशालिनी देवि! तुम आत्मस्वरूपा हो तथा परलोकके विषयमें एवं कर्म-फलके विचारमें प्रविष्ट हुई अत्यन्त उत्तृष्ट बुद्धि हो। प्रज्ञा देवी भी तुम्हीं हो। तुम्हींको इन दोनों रूपोंमें जानकर मैं पूछता हूँ, बताओ, वास्तवमें तुम क्या हो? ।। सरस्वत्युवाच अग्निहोत्रादहम भ्यागतास्मि विप्र्षभाणां संशयच्छेदनाय । त्वत्संयोगादहमेतमन्रुवं भावे स्थिता तथ्यमर्थ यथावत्,सरस्वती बोली--मुने! मैं [विद्यारूपा सरस्वती हूँ और] श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणोंके अग्निहोत्रसे यहाँ तुम्हारे संशयका निवारण करनेके लिये आयी हूँ। (तुम श्रद्धालु हो) तुम्हारा सांनिध्य पाकर ही मैंने यहाँ ये पूर्वोक्त सत्य बातें यथार्थरूपसे बतायी हैं; क्योंकि आन्तरिक श्रद्धाभावमें ही मेरी स्थिति है
tākṣya uvāca | sundararūpavālī saubhāgyaśālinī devi! tvam ātmasvarūpā ca, paralokaviṣaye ca karmaphalavicāre ca praviṣṭā atyuttamabuddhiḥ | prajñādevī api tvam eva | tvām etayor rūpayor jñātvāhaṃ pṛcchāmi—brūhi, vastutas tvaṃ kā? || sarasvaty uvāca | agnihotrād ahaṃ hy āgatāsmi viprarṣabhāṇāṃ saṃśayacchedanāya | tvatsaṃyogād aham etam anuvādaṃ bhāve sthitā tathyam arthaṃ yathāvat prabravīmi; śraddhābhāva eva mama sthitiḥ ||
Takṣya said: “O goddess of lovely form and auspicious fortune! You are of the nature of the Self, and you possess the highest intelligence that has entered into reflection on the other world and on the fruits of action. You are also the very goddess called Wisdom. Knowing you in these two aspects, I ask: tell me—what are you in truth?” Sarasvatī replied: “O sage, I have come here from the Agnihotra of the foremost Brahmins in order to cut through your doubt. It is through association with you—because you are full of faith—that I speak this true meaning exactly as it is; for my abiding place is the inner state of śraddhā (trustful reverence).”
ताक्ष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
True understanding is supported by śraddhā (inner trustful reverence). Sarasvatī identifies her effective presence with the inner state of faith, and presents wisdom as that which clarifies doubt about karma, its fruits, and the other world.
Takṣya questions a radiant goddess about her real identity, recognizing her as both Self-nature and wisdom. Sarasvatī answers that she has come from the Agnihotra of eminent Brahmins to remove his doubt, and that she speaks the truth accurately because his faithful disposition provides the proper ground for instruction.