Shloka 20
कृतयुगवर्णनम् तथा राजधर्मोपदेशः
Kṛtayuga Description and Instruction on Royal Dharma
मार्कण्डेयजी बोले--राजन! मैं स्वयं प्रकट होनेवाले सनातन, अविनाशी, अव्यक्त, सूक्ष्म, निर्गुण एवं गुणस्वरूप पुराणपुरुषको नमस्कार करके तुम्हें वह कथा अभी सुनाता हूँ। पुरुषसिंह! ये जो हमलोगोंके पास बैठे हुए पीताम्बरधारी भगवान् जनार्दन हैं, ये ही संसारकी सृष्टि और संहार करनेवाले हैं। ये ही भगवान् समस्त प्राणियोंके अन्तर्यामी आत्मा और उनके रचयिता हैं। ये पवित्र, अचिन्त्य एवं महान् आश्वर्यमय तत्त्व कहे जाते हैं ।। १७ -7१९ || अनादिनिधनं भूत॑ विश्वमव्ययमक्षयम् | एष कर्ता न क्रियते कारणं चापि पौरुषे,इनका न आदि है, न अन्त। ये सर्वभूतस्वरूप, अव्यय और अक्षय हैं। ये ही सबके कर्ता हैं, इनका कोई कर्ता नहीं है। पुरुषार्थकी प्राप्तिमें भी ये ही कारण हैं
anādinidhanaṁ bhūtaṁ viśvam avyayam akṣayam | eṣa kartā na kriyate kāraṇaṁ cāpi pauruṣe ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “That Being is without beginning and without end—the universe itself, imperishable and undecaying. He alone is the doer; no other maker makes Him. And even in the attainment of human aims (puruṣārthas), He is the decisive cause.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts a supreme, uncaused reality: the ultimate Being is beginningless and endless, identical with the imperishable ground of the universe. He is the true agent behind all action and the ultimate cause even of human goals (dharma, artha, kāma, mokṣa), emphasizing dependence of worldly and ethical striving upon the divine source.
In the Vana Parva setting, Vaiśampāyana continues a discourse that praises the supreme Lord as the cosmic origin and inner ruler. This verse crystallizes that praise by stating His eternity, His status as the ultimate doer, and His causal role in human endeavor.