Shloka 40
कण्वोपदेशः—नश्वरबलविवेकः तथा मातलिगुणकेश्याः आख्यानारम्भः
Kaṇva’s Counsel on Impermanent Power; Opening of the Mātali–Guṇakeśī Narrative
सुमहच्चापि तत् कर्म तन्नरेण कृत॑ पुरा । ततो गुणै: सुबहुभि: श्रेष्ठ नारायणो5भवत्,इस प्रकार पूर्वकालमें महात्मा नरने वह महान् कर्म किया था। उनसे भी बहुत गुणोंके कारण भगवान् नारायण श्रेष्ठ हैं
sumahac cāpi tat karma tan nareṇa kṛtaṃ purā | tato guṇaiḥ subahubhiḥ śreṣṭho nārāyaṇo 'bhavat ||
ಆ ಕಾರ್ಯವು ಎಷ್ಟೇ ಮಹತ್ತಾದದ್ದಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ, ಅದು ಪುರಾತನಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಾತ್ಮ ನರನು ಮಾಡಿದದ್ದೇ; ಆದರೆ ಅನೇಕ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಗುಣಗಳ ಬಲದಿಂದ ಭಗವಾನ್ ನಾರಾಯಣನು ಅವನಿಗಿಂತಲೂ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠನಾದನು।
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Great deeds deserve honor, yet true superiority is measured by enduring virtues (guṇas). The verse highlights an ethical hierarchy: action is important, but the fullness of excellence—wisdom, restraint, compassion, and divine steadiness—makes Nārāyaṇa pre-eminent.
Rāma recalls an ancient account in which Nara accomplished a remarkable feat. He then draws a comparison, concluding that Nārāyaṇa surpasses even that greatness because of his many superior qualities, reinforcing Nārāyaṇa’s exceptional status.