Shloka 373
धर्मद्वारबहुत्वविमर्शः — Reflection on the Many ‘Doors’ of Dharma (Śānti-parva 342)
भारावतरणार्थ तु प्रविष्टी मानुषीं तनुम् । पार्थ! यह मैंने तुमसे भक्तोंका अन्तर बतलाया है। कुन्तीनन्दन! तुम और मैं दोनों ही नर-नारायण नामक ऋषि हैं और पृथ्वीका भार उतारनेके लिये हमने मानव-शरीरमें प्रवेश किया है
bhārāvataraṇārthaṃ tu praviṣṭī mānuṣīṃ tanum | pārtha! yad mayā tvayā bhaktānām antaraṃ batalāyāḥ | kuntīnandana! tvaṃ ca ahaṃ ca ubhau eva nara-nārāyaṇa-nāmānau ṛṣī, pṛthivyā bhāraṃ avatārayituṃ mānuṣa-śarīre praviṣṭau ||
ପୃଥିବୀର ଭାର ହ୍ରାସ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଆମେ ମାନବଦେହରେ ପ୍ରବେଶ କରିଛୁ। ହେ ପାର୍ଥ, ଭକ୍ତମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଥିବା ଅନ୍ତର୍ଗତ ଭେଦ ମୁଁ ତୁମକୁ ଯାହା କହିଛି, ସେଇ। ହେ କୁନ୍ତୀନନ୍ଦନ, ତୁମେ ଓ ମୁଁ ପ୍ରକୃତରେ ‘ନର-ନାରାୟଣ’ ନାମକ ଋଷି; ପୃଥିବୀର ଭାର ଅପସାରଣ ପାଇଁ ଆମେ ମାନବ ଶରୀର ଧାରଣ କରିଛୁ।
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the epic’s events as a dharmic, cosmic mission: the protagonists assume human embodiment to relieve the earth’s burden caused by adharma, while also emphasizing discernment regarding devotees—their inner disposition and spiritual maturity.
The speaker addresses Arjuna (Pārtha/Kuntīnandana) and reveals a divine identity: Arjuna and the speaker are Nara and Nārāyaṇa in sage-form, who have entered human bodies to accomplish the task of reducing the earth’s burden.