Shloka 50
धर्मस्य बहुद्वारत्वम् — Nārada’s Audience with Indra (Śānti-parva 340)
हिरण्यगर्भो लोकादिद्षतुर्वक्त्रो डनिरुक्तग: । ब्रह्मा सनातनो देवो मम बह्नर्थचिन्तक:
hiraṇyagarbho lokādir caturvaktraḥ aniruktaghaḥ | brahmā sanātano devo mama bahv-artha-cintakaḥ ||
ହିରଣ୍ୟଗର୍ଭ, ସମସ୍ତ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ଆଦି, ଚତୁର୍ମୁଖ, ଅନିର୍ବଚନୀୟ ସ୍ୱରୂପ ଥିବା ସନାତନ ଦେବ ବ୍ରହ୍ମା—ସେ ମୋର ବହୁ ପ୍ରୟୋଜନ ଓ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ବିଷୟରେ ଚିନ୍ତନ କରନ୍ତି।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes reverence for the cosmic order and its source: Brahmā, described with classical epithets, is portrayed as an overseeing intelligence who contemplates and supports the speaker’s many aims—suggesting that human endeavors, especially those tied to dharma, are best aligned with a higher, orderly principle.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhīṣma speaks in a reflective, didactic mode and invokes Brahmā with exalted titles, presenting him as the primordial, ineffable creator who considers Bhīṣma’s various intentions and responsibilities—framing the discourse within a divine-cosmic context.