Shloka 16
Cāturhotra as Inner Sacrifice (Yoga-Yajña) and Nārāyaṇa Recitation
ऋषचश्नाप्यत्र शंसन्ति नारायणविदो जना: । नारायणाय देवाय यदविन्दन् पशून् पुरा
ṛṣayaś cāpy atra śaṃsanti nārāyaṇavido janāḥ | nārāyaṇāya devāya yad avindan paśūn purā ||
Mereka yang benar-benar mengenal Nārāyaṇa turut menyebut kesaksian para resi di sini: pada zaman purba, demi mencapai Nārāyaṇa Yang Ilahi, para insan yang berbakti menundukkan ‘binatang-binatang’ ke bawah kuasa—yakni mereka menaklukkan pancaindera yang liar dan tidak terkawal. Rangkap ini menampilkan kemajuan rohani sebagai disiplin etika: bhakti dibuktikan bukan dengan dakwaan, tetapi dengan pengekangan diri dan pemerintahan batin yang tertuju kepada Tuhan.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Devotion to Nārāyaṇa is validated through disciplined mastery of the senses; the ‘animals’ to be subdued are the sense-forces that otherwise drag the mind outward. The verse appeals to ṛṣi-authority to present self-restraint as a form of inner sacrifice directed to God.
A brāhmaṇa speaker supports a teaching about yoga-like sacrifice by citing what the seers and Nārāyaṇa-knowers say: in ancient times devotees, seeking Nārāyaṇa, ‘obtained/subdued the paśus’—understood as bringing the senses under control as part of spiritual practice.