Shloka 40
धर्मद्वारबहुत्वविमर्शः — Reflection on the Many ‘Doors’ of Dharma (Śānti-parva 342)
आपो नारा इति प्रोक्ता आपो वै नरसूनव: । अयनं मम तत् पूर्वमतो नारायणो हाहम्,नरसे उत्पन्न होनेके कारण जलको नार कहा गया है। वह नार (जल) पहले मेरा अयन (निवासस्थान) था; इसलिये ही मैं “नारायण” कहलाता हूँ
āpo nārā iti proktā āpo vai narasūnavaḥ | ayanaṃ mama tat pūrvam ato nārāyaṇo hy aham ||
Air disebut “Nārā”, kerana air sesungguhnya ialah keturunan Nara. Dahulu, Nārā—air yang purba itu—ialah ayana-ku, yakni tempat persemadian dan kediamanku; maka sebab itulah aku disebut Nārāyaṇa.
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse offers a traditional nirukti (etymological-theological explanation) of the name ‘Nārāyaṇa’: since ‘Nārā’ denotes the waters (said here to be born of Nara) and these waters are the deity’s primordial abode (ayana), the divine is called Nārāyaṇa—highlighting cosmic origin, sovereignty, and sacred identity.
Arjuna speaks and explains the derivation of the epithet ‘Nārāyaṇa’ by linking it to ‘Nārā’ (waters) and ‘ayana’ (abode). The statement functions as a doctrinal clarification within the Shānti Parva’s reflective discourse, grounding a revered divine name in cosmological imagery.