Shloka 896
Nāgendra–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda: Praśna-vidhi and Dharmic Approach on the Gomatī Riverbank
पञठ्चकारणसंख्यातो निष्ठा सर्वत्र वै हरि: | अधिष्ठान, कर्ता, भिन्न-भिन्न प्रकारके करण, नाना प्रकारकी अलग-अलग चेष्टाएँ तथा पाँचवाँ दैव--इन पाँच कारणोंके रूपमें सर्वत्र श्रीहरि ही विराजमान हैं
pañcakāraṇasaṅkhyāto niṣṭhā sarvatra vai hariḥ | adhiṣṭhānaṃ kartā bhinna-bhinna-prakārakaṃ karaṇaṃ nānā-prakārāḥ pṛthak-pṛthag ceṣṭāḥ tathā pañcamaṃ daivam—eteṣu pañcasu kāraṇeṣu rūpeṇa sarvatra śrīharir eva virājamānaḥ ||
ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ— କର୍ମର ପଞ୍ଚ କାରଣ ରୂପେ ହରି ସର୍ବତ୍ର ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠିତ। ଅଧିଷ୍ଠାନ, କର୍ତ୍ତା, ବିଭିନ୍ନ କରଣ, ନାନା ପ୍ରକାରର ପୃଥକ୍ ପ୍ରୟାସ, ଏବଂ ପଞ୍ଚମ ଦୈବ—ଏହି ପାଞ୍ଚ କାରଣରେ ସର୍ବତ୍ର ଶ୍ରୀହରି ହିଁ ବିରାଜମାନ।
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
All action is understood through five causal factors—basis (adhiṣṭhāna), agent (kartā), instruments (karaṇa), efforts (ceṣṭā), and destiny/providence (daiva)—and the Lord (Hari) pervades them all. Ethically, this discourages both fatalism and egoism: one must act responsibly using one’s capacities, while recognizing limits and the divine support underlying outcomes.
Vaiśaṃpāyana continues a didactic exposition in Śānti Parva, presenting a philosophical account of how actions arise. The passage reframes causation in moral terms, teaching that multiple conditions contribute to results and that the divine presence is immanent within those conditions.