Shloka 12
Nārāyaṇasya Guhya-nāmāni Niruktāni (Etymologies of Nārāyaṇa’s Secret Epithets) / नारायणस्य गुह्यनामानि निरुक्तानि
आनुृ्शंस्यं परो धर्म: क्षमा च परमं बलम् | आत्मज्ञानं परं ज्ञानं न सत्याद् विद्यते परम्
Ānṛśaṁsyaṁ paro dharmaḥ kṣamā ca paramaṁ balam | ātmajñānaṁ paraṁ jñānaṁ na satyād vidyate param ||
करुणा हा परम धर्म आहे आणि क्षमा हे परम बळ आहे। आत्मज्ञान हेच सर्वोच्च ज्ञान आहे; सत्यापेक्षा श्रेष्ठ असे काहीही नाही।
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse ranks key virtues: compassion/non-cruelty as the highest dharma, forgiveness as the greatest strength, Self-knowledge as the highest knowledge, and truth as the unsurpassed foundation of all virtues.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction-focused setting, Nārada delivers a concise ethical and spiritual summary, emphasizing inner virtues and truth as guiding principles for righteous living after the devastation of war.