Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 66

Āścarya-kathana: Brāhmaṇa–Nāga Dialogue on Sūrya (Vivasvat) and the ‘Second Sun’ Phenomenon

Devanagari script

देवं परमकं ब्रद्दा श्वेतं चन्द्रा भभच्युतम्‌ । यत्र चैकान्तिनो यान्ति नारायणपरायणा:

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | devaṁ paramakaṁ brahmā śvetaṁ candrābhaṁ acyutam | yatra caikāntino yānti nārāyaṇaparāyaṇāḥ ||

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ଯେଉଁ ଏକାନ୍ତିକ, ନାରାୟଣପରାୟଣ ଭକ୍ତମାନେ ଅଛନ୍ତି, ସେମାନେ ପରମ ବ୍ରହ୍ମସ୍ୱରୂପ, ନିର୍ମଳ, ଚନ୍ଦ୍ରସଦୃଶ ଶ୍ୱେତ-ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ ଭଗବାନ ଅଚ୍ୟୁତଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରାପ୍ତ କରନ୍ତି। ଏହା ଦର୍ଶାଏ ଯେ ଅଡ଼ିଗ ଭକ୍ତି ଓ ଏକମାତ୍ର ଶରଣାଗତି ପରମ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟକୁ ନେଇଯାଏ।

Word by Word

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• परमकम्: supreme (one)
• परमकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्वेतम्: white, bright
• श्वेतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• चन्द्राभम्: moon-like
• चन्द्राभम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्राभ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अच्युतम्: Achyuta (the infallible Lord)
• अच्युतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एकान्तिनः: exclusive devotees
• एकान्तिनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकान्तिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• यान्ति: go, attain
• Type: Verb
• Root: या
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• नारायणपरायणाः: devoted solely to Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणपरायणाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायण-परायण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Acyuta
• Nārāyaṇa
• Brahman

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Exclusive, unwavering devotion (ekāntitā) to Nārāyaṇa leads the devotee to attain the supreme Lord—identified with the highest Brahman—emphasizing spiritual single-mindedness as a direct path to liberation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana, continuing the Śānti Parva discourse, describes the destiny of Nārāyaṇa-devoted ascetics: they ‘go to’ (attain) Acyuta, portrayed as supremely pure and moon-bright, framing devotion as the culminating spiritual attainment.