Shloka 39
Āścarya-kathana: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Dialogue on Sūrya (Vivasvat) and the ‘Second Sun’ Phenomenon
नासिक्ये जन्मनि पुरा ब्रह्मण: पार्थिवोत्तम | धर्ममेतं स्वयं देवो हरिनारायण: प्रभु:
nāsikye janmani purā brahmaṇaḥ pārthivottama | dharmam etaṃ svayaṃ devo harinārāyaṇaḥ prabhuḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai raja yang terbaik, dalam kelahiran terdahulu di Nāsikya, dharma ini diajarkan secara langsung oleh Tuhan sendiri—Hari Nārāyaṇa, Penguasa Yang Maha Berdaulat.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse grounds the teaching of dharma in divine authority: the ethical rule being discussed is not merely human opinion but is presented as having been taught directly by Hari Nārāyaṇa in an earlier context, strengthening its normative force for rulers and society.
Vaiśampāyana, continuing his narration, addresses the king as ‘best of kings’ and introduces a precedent from a former birth at Nāsikya, stating that the dharma under discussion was personally taught by the Lord Hari Nārāyaṇa.