Shloka 98
Atithi-prāpti and the Brāhmaṇa’s Deliberation on Triadic Dharma (अतिथिप्राप्तिः धर्मत्रयविचारश्च)
तेनानुशिष्टो ब्रह्मापि स्वलोकमचिराद् गत: । एवमेष महाभाग: पद्मनाभ: सनातन:
tenānuśiṣṭo brahmāpi svalokam acirād gataḥ | evam eṣa mahābhāgaḥ padmanābhaḥ sanātanaḥ ||
Vyāsa berkata: Setelah diajar demikian, Brahmā pun segera berangkat ke alamnya sendiri. Demikianlah Tuhan Padmanābha—yang mulia lagi kekal—disebut sebagai penerima utama dalam segala yajña, serta penyokong dan penggerak tertib korban suci sepanjang masa. Ada kalanya Baginda menegakkan jalan penarikan diri (nivṛtti-dharma) yang dipegang oleh para mahātmā yang kebajikannya tidak binasa; ada kalanya pula, dengan mempertimbangkan kecenderungan batin makhluk yang beraneka, Baginda menetapkan jalan keterlibatan (pravṛtti-dharma) bagi dunia.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents the Lord (Padmanābha/Viṣṇu) as the regulator of dharma in two complementary modes: nivṛtti (renunciatory withdrawal aimed at liberation) and pravṛtti (engaged duty sustaining society and ritual order). Both are framed as divinely sanctioned, applied according to the capacities and mental tendencies of beings.
After receiving instruction, Brahmā departs to his own realm. Vyāsa then characterizes Padmanābha as eternal and supremely authoritative over sacrifice and dharma—supporting sacrificial order while also guiding beings either toward renunciation or toward worldly duty as appropriate.