Shloka 6
Āścarya-kathana: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Dialogue on Sūrya (Vivasvat) and the ‘Second Sun’ Phenomenon
केनैष धर्म: कथितो देवेन ऋषिणापि वा
Janamejaya uvāca | kenaiṣa dharmaḥ kathito devena ṛṣiṇāpi vā, bhagavan? asya bhaktirūpasya dharmasya kaḥ devatā vā ṛṣiḥ vā upadeṣṭā? ananya-bhaktānāṃ jīvanacaryā kā? sa ca kadā prācīnaḥ pravṛttaḥ? mama saṃśayaṃ nivāraya; etad-viṣayaṃ śrotuṃ mama manasi mahān autkaṇṭhyaḥ ||
ພຣະຣາຊາຈະນະເມຊະຍະ ກ່າວວ່າ: «ຂໍນົບນ້ອມຕໍ່ທ່ານຜູ້ຄວນເຄົາລົບ! ທັມມະນີ້ໃຜເປັນຜູ້ສອນ—ເທວະດາ ຫຼື ລິສີ? ທັມມະທີ່ມີຮູບແບບເປັນພັກຕິ (ຄວາມອຸທິດຈິດຕໍ່ພຣະ) ນີ້ ໃຜເປັນຜູ້ຊີ້ນຳເປັນຄັ້ງທຳອິດ? ວິຖີຊີວິດຂອງຜູ້ມີພັກຕິຢ່າງເອກຈິດເອກໃຈເປັນແນວໃດ, ແລະ ປະເພນີນີ້ດຳເນີນມາແຕ່ເມື່ອໃດ? ຂໍທ່ານຈົ່ງຂັດຄວາມສົງໄສຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ; ໃຈຂ້າພະເຈົ້າກະຫຼືກະຫຼືຢາກຟັງເລື່ອງນີ້ຢ່າງຍິ່ງ»។
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a doctrinal inquiry: devotion-centered dharma (bhakti-rūpa dharma) is to be understood through its authoritative source (deva or ṛṣi), its practical expression (the conduct of ananya-bhaktas), and its historical continuity (since when it has been practiced).
King Janamejaya addresses the revered narrator/teacher and asks for clarification about a tradition of exclusive devotion—who taught it first, how its followers live, and how ancient it is—requesting that his doubt be dispelled due to his strong eagerness to hear.